Hyundai-LGES, Huayou in Battery Recycling Partnership in Indonesia
Hyundai Motor Group’s Indonesian JV with LG Energy Solution, PT Hyundai LG Indonesia Green Power, has teamed up with Zhejiang Huayou Recycling to process both production waste and end‑of‑life EV batteries. The $1.1 billion Karawang plant, operational in 2024, will ship waste to Huayou’s local facility where it is turned into black mass and refined into lithium, cobalt and nickel. The collaboration extends to recycling used batteries, creating a closed‑loop supply chain for battery‑cell manufacturing. Executives describe the move as the first step toward a circular battery economy in Southeast Asia.
Maersk Turns EWG’s Terminal in Hungary Into a Dry Port
Maersk has signed an agreement with East‑West Intermodal Logistics (EWG) to launch a container depot and dry‑port service at EWG’s terminal in Fényeslitke, Hungary. The dry‑port model moves traditional seaport functions inland, allowing cargo to be processed closer to end‑users....
Conflict in the Strait of Hormuz Is Spilling Into the Indian Ocean
Conflict between the US‑Israel coalition and Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing commercial vessels to reroute through the Indian Ocean. At least 18 ships have been attacked and dozens have disabled AIS, while Iran permits Chinese‑flagged traffic,...
‘The Largest Supply Disruption in the History of the Global Oil Market’: IEA’s Take on the Hormuz Crisis
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, turning the vital oil chokepoint into a geopolitical weapon. The International Energy Agency warns this blockade represents the largest supply disruption in oil market history,...
India Taps 65m Barrels of Russian Crude
The U.S. Treasury issued a one‑month OFAC wind‑down licence, allowing Russian crude already at sea to complete voyages through April 11. The licence is intended to stabilise energy markets amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis that has disrupted Gulf supplies. Broker...
Belgium-Italy Links Boost Hupac’s Growth
Hupac reported a 4.3% rise in road consignments, reaching 1,853,000 TEUs in 2025. Growth was driven by a new Gent‑Piadena service and higher frequency on the Zeebrugge‑Piacenza link, strengthening the Belgium‑Italy corridor. The company noted that without these volumes, trans‑Alpine...
When the Fire Is Not the Railway’s Fault
An uncontrolled fire beside Glasgow Central Station forced the indefinite closure of Scotland’s busiest rail hub, halting passenger services and prompting widespread diversions. While freight traffic escaped major impact, the incident highlighted how external urban hazards—fires, floods, structural failures—can cripple...
EUR 750 Million Contract for a New Railway Line in the Krakow Area
Polish railway infrastructure manager PKP PLK signed a EUR 750 million contract with a Budimex‑Ferrovial consortium to build a 20‑km double‑track line linking Krakow to Gdów. The project, part of the broader Podłęże–Piekiełko programme, includes new stations, fully accessible platforms, and 42 engineering...
The Czech Railway Industry, Competitive on International Markets
The Czech railway sector contributed roughly 2% of national GDP in 2025, generating €5.4 billion in turnover and employing about 23,700 people. Export activity was a key driver, with 52% of production – valued at CZK 68 billion (≈€2.8 billion) – shipped abroad, marking...
Trucking Hails Move by Trump Administration to Remove ‘Destructive’ Rule Regarding Independent Contractors
The Trump administration has proposed a rule that overturns the Biden-era definition of independent contractors affecting roughly 350,000 truck drivers. The new regulation restores the 2021 definition used under the first Trump administration, emphasizing the economic realities test focused on...
NYK Takes Full Control of Saga Welco
Japanese shipping giant NYK has acquired full ownership of Saga Welco, ending its 12‑year 50:50 joint venture with Norway’s Westfal‑Larsen. The deal, with undisclosed financial terms, gives NYK control of Saga Welco’s fleet of 48 open‑hatch vessels that serve global...
Amazon to Build £400m Robotics Fulfilment Centre in Australia
Amazon Australia disclosed a A$750 million investment to build a four‑level, 150,000 m² robotics fulfilment centre in Brisbane, slated for completion in 2028. The warehouse will handle more than 125 million parcels per year and store up to 15 million small‑item SKUs across categories...
Yang Ming Readies Order for Six LNG Dual-Fuel Boxships
Taiwanese carrier Yang Ming Marine Transport has cleared an order for six LNG‑dual‑fuel neo‑panamax boxships, part of a broader plan to add 13,000 TEU vessels to its fleet. The new ships will replace older 4,250‑6,500 TEU vessels and reinforce Yang Ming’s east‑west trade...
ERP’s Role in End-to-End Supply Chain Intelligence
IFS is positioning its cloud ERP as a control tower for end‑to‑end supply‑chain intelligence, merging planning, execution and Industrial AI on a single platform. The solution delivers real‑time visibility across demand, inventory, production, logistics and sustainability, and embeds predictive analytics...
Circle Digital Ventures: Crew and Risk Management
Circle Digital Ventures, led by CEO Meei Wong, is pivoting maritime technology from ship‑centric solutions to human‑centric risk management. The company leverages AI to detect early signs of fatigue, stress, and health issues, enabling proactive support and reducing operational incidents....
Automated Inspection and Packaging of 36,000 Syringes per Hour
Ward Automation delivered a compact robotic cell that inspects, labels, and palletizes 36,000 syringes per hour for a multinational pharma maker. The system uses three Stäubli robots, dual machine‑vision stations, and a dedicated lid‑sealing module, all built to meet 21 CFR...
WheelsEye Posts Rs 243 Cr Revenue in FY25; Losses Remains Flat
WheelsEye, a logistics SaaS provider, posted FY25 operating revenue of Rs 243.4 crore, a 17% increase from the prior year. Subscription services drove the growth, contributing 62% of total revenue and rising 20% year‑on‑year. Hardware costs, especially GPS devices, surged 68%, while...
How the Iran War Threatens the Global Food, Energy and Other Supplies
The Iran‑Iran war has turned the Suez‑Oman shipping corridor into a high‑risk, high‑cost route, pushing container freight from $2,000 to $10,000. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is driving volatile oil and gas prices, while broader supply‑chain bottlenecks are...
Fashion Council, RM Williams Table ‘Globally Competitive’ Fashion Strategy
The Australian Fashion Council and RM Williams unveiled a ten‑year National Manufacturing Strategy aimed at building a globally competitive fashion and textile sector in Australia. The plan responds to the industry's vulnerability, highlighted by Middle‑East conflicts, and seeks to shift the...
Home Depot Exec Shares Insights Into New Delivery Tracker
The Home Depot will roll out the industry’s first real‑time delivery tracker for large and bulky items by the end of Q1 2026. The feature, embedded in the company’s mobile app and website, offers minute‑by‑minute GPS updates, route visibility, and estimated...
New Safety Kits Help Seafarers Prepare for Missile and Drone Attacks in Conflict Zones
Maritime charity Stella Maris has begun distributing specialist safety kits to vessels calling at Ukrainian ports, aiming to protect crews from missile and drone attacks. The kits contain haemostatic tourniquets, pressure bandages, flash‑burn treatment, and multilingual emergency guidance, including shelter maps...
Iran Vows to Keep Blocking the Strait of Hormuz
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, still recovering from a U.S. strike, declared that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, leaving roughly 1,000 vessels stranded in the Gulf. While the closure is driven by political retaliation, insurers have confirmed that...
Industry-Backed TAFE Degree Aims to Grow Skills Across Manufacturing, Automation Sectors
TAFE Queensland has introduced an Associate Degree in Applied Technologies, a higher‑education qualification designed to upskill workers in manufacturing, automation and digital technologies. The program was co‑created with industry leaders through the Queensland Future Skills Partnership, led by BHP Mitsubishi...
DP World Profits up 32% to $1.96 Billion in 2025
DP World reported a record 2025 with revenue climbing 22% to $24.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA up 18% to $6.4 billion. Net profit surged 32.2% to $1.96 billion, driven by higher port volumes and improved yields. Total TEU throughput rose 5.8% to 93.4 million...
Offshore Wind Installation Tech Promises to Change Logistics Game, Cut Reliance on Deep-Water Ports
Feederdock, a split‑vessel offshore wind installation system developed by ONP Management and Renewable Resources International, is set to enter the Australian market with Energy Estate as exclusive advisor. The concept pairs a heavy‑lift jack‑up vessel with shallow‑draught feeder ships, delivering...
Australia’s $2.1B Battery Recycling Sector Pushes for National Stewardship Framework
Australia’s battery recycling industry contributes about $2.1 billion annually and supports nearly 20 000 jobs across 45 facilities. The Battery Stewardship Council projects the sector could grow to $6.9 billion and 34 600 jobs by 2050, highlighting its strategic role in domestic critical‑minerals supply....
Despite ‘Economic Bullying,’ Xinjiang’s Textile Industry Is Growing
Chinese officials announced that Xinjiang’s textile sector added 46,800 jobs and saw yarn output rise over 20% and fabric production jump 36% in 2025, despite U.S. sanctions targeting the region’s cotton. Investment in the industry climbed 35%, and value‑added output...
Supply Chain Leadership Has Become Essential to the CIO Role
Manufacturers facing supply‑chain volatility and rising costs are redefining the CIO role to combine traditional IT oversight with direct responsibility for supply‑chain transformation. Modern supply‑chain CIOs must master emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, digital twins, and analytics while aligning...
U.S. Tariffs Impacted Yue Yuen’s 2025 Profits and Revenue
Yue Yuen Industrial Ltd. reported a 1.8% drop in 2025 revenue to $8.03 billion, while shoe shipments fell 1.2% to 252.2 million pairs. Manufacturing revenue rose modestly, and the average selling price increased 3.7% to $21 per pair. Overall profit slipped 2.9%...
Firms Plan to Boost Supply-Chain Agility as Tariff Turmoil Persists
U.S. Supreme Court invalidated sweeping tariffs imposed under the 1977 IEEPA, reigniting policy uncertainty for import‑heavy firms. A KPMG survey finds that 40% of U.S. companies will increase spending on supply‑chain agility, while nearly half are already modeling tariff‑mitigation strategies...
AI Has Created ‘Almost Infinite Demand’ for Memory Components, Dell Execs Say
Dell Technologies executives warned that artificial intelligence has generated an "almost infinite" demand for computer memory, creating a critical supply‑chain bottleneck in the United States. The shortage of DRAM and other memory chips is driving prices higher and limiting the...
Medline Expands Distribution with New Texas Center
Medline announced a new 1.2‑million‑square‑foot distribution center in Midlothian, Texas, slated to become operational in the second quarter of 2027. The facility adds to the company’s network of 45 centers and marks its second hub in the Dallas‑Fort Worth market. Equipped...
Electrified Materials Adds Processing Capacity
American Resources Corp.'s subsidiary Electrified Materials Corp. (EMCO) has added a new preprocessing line at its Indiana plant, expanding capacity to aggregate and condition magnet, copper, aluminum, ferrous metals and rare‑earth/critical‑mineral feedstocks. The conditioned materials are shipped to sister company...
NIDEC MACHINE TOOL AMERICA Expands Advanced Manufacturing Portfolio, Rebrands Division to Reflect Broader Capabilities
NIDEC MACHINE TOOL AMERICA rebranded its Additive Manufacturing division as Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, consolidating the LAMDA metal additive system, ABLASER laser micromachining, and BOND MEISTER wafer bonding under one brand. LAMDA’s AI‑driven DED printers feature a local shield nozzle for reactive...
Volatile Shipping Market Drags Down OOCL’s 2025 Financial Results
OOCL’s 2025 results were hit by a volatile shipping market, heightened trade tensions and new US tariffs. Revenue slipped 9.3% year‑over‑year to $9.7 billion, while EBIT and net profit plunged 42% and 41% respectively, each landing at $1.5 billion. Despite the earnings...
The Rise of AI in Supply Chain: Our Interview with Supply Chain Leader Corey Weekes
The interview with supply‑chain leader Corey Weekes highlights how artificial intelligence is reshaping governance across the sector in 2026. Weekes notes that AI‑driven automation is accelerating procurement decisions while demanding new oversight frameworks. He also discusses the tightening talent market,...
H&M and EY Call for Decarbonisation Financing Boost
H&M Group and EY have published a white paper urging a surge in financing for supply‑chain decarbonisation across the fashion and textile sector. The report outlines a structured framework that directs capital toward Scope 3 emissions reductions while protecting long‑term margins...
Addressing Planning and Forecasting Challenges in Business Central
A webinar on March 25, 2026 will tackle planning and forecasting hurdles in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, highlighting the platform’s native demand‑forecasting limits and complex vendor‑driven purchasing workflows. Attendees will see how to interpret supply‑demand data, adjust forecasting parameters, and leverage popular...
How the Shutdown Endangers America’s ‘Arsenal of Freedom’ Behind the Scenes
The ongoing partial government shutdown has sharply reduced demand for small defense sustainment suppliers, with one Texas OEM reporting a 76% drop in orders and a 44% workforce cut. Over 115 funded delivery orders worth millions sit idle, creating a...
From Strategy to Speed, Modex 2026 Keynotes Set the Pace
Modex 2026, the premier manufacturing and supply‑chain conference, featured a high‑profile keynote lineup that blended corporate strategy with cutting‑edge technology. Home Depot CFO Richard McPhail discussed nearshoring and digitization as critical levers for supply‑chain resilience. Exponential strategist Salim Ismail illustrated...
Middle East Conflict Might Create Supply Constraints, Raise in Aluminium Premiums in Mexico
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, choking the primary aluminium supply chain that relies on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) smelters. Force‑majeure notices from Qatalum and Aluminium of Bahrain have driven premiums higher, with...
USITC Probes USMCA Auto Rules’ Impact on Industry Competitiveness
The U.S. International Trade Commission has opened a fact‑finding investigation into how the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement’s automotive rules of origin affect U.S. competitiveness, especially for advanced and electric vehicles. The probe follows two earlier biennial reports that highlighted mismatches between...
How to Optimize Warehouse Storage Design for Maximum Efficiency
Optimizing warehouse storage design hinges on maximizing vertical space, selecting the right layout, and integrating advanced material‑handling technologies. Extending rack heights, adding mezzanines, and complying with NFPA 13 clearance rules can double usable floor area. Choosing a U‑shaped or I‑shaped floor...
Reverse Logistics - the Key To Parcel And E-Commerce Deliveries
Reverse logistics has become as vital as forward delivery amid the surge in e‑commerce shipments. Handling returns now demands specialized processes to manage cost, legal exposure, and brand reputation. Retailers and logistics providers must strengthen compliance with data‑privacy, intellectual‑property, and...
Daimler Truck Vs. Traton: The Trough Reveals It All
Daimler Truck and Traton SE are grappling with a steep contraction in global heavy‑truck demand, especially across Europe. Despite the downturn, Traton posted a 32% surge in orders, driven by aging fleets and high utilization, while Daimler Truck is concentrating...
LPG Shortage: Wadi Surgicals’ Operations Shut in Vizag
Wadi Surgicals’ Visakhapatnam plant has been idle for four days after Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited failed to deliver its daily 4,500 kg LPG requirement. The shortage halted production of nitrile examination gloves, a vital PPE item for hospitals and labs. Management...
Blue Yonder Expands Agentic AI and Mobile Experiences for Industry-Specific Supply Chain Execution
Blue Yonder unveiled an expanded suite of agentic AI tools and role‑specific mobile applications for its end‑to‑end planning and execution platform. The release adds AI agents for retail, manufacturing, transportation, warehouse and customer service functions, plus mobile allocation, operator and...
Stadler to Supply 7 More Battery Trains to ÖBB to Phase Out Diesel in Regional Austrian Rail
ÖBB has placed an order for seven additional FLIRT Akku battery‑electric trains from Stadler, slated for delivery in 2028. The units will replace diesel‑powered services on the Kamptalbahn and Erlauftalbahn lines in Lower Austria starting in 2029. Each train combines...
Avianca Cargo Introduces A330F Link Between Bogota and Caracas
Avianca Cargo launched a weekly Airbus A330F freighter between Bogotá and Caracas on March 7, providing up to 60 tonnes of maindeck capacity. The service adds 7 tonnes of belly cargo on passenger flights, creating a combined 67‑tonne weekly offering. The airline also...
Saudia Cargo Moves to Extend Sea – Air Options
Saudia Cargo has broadened its partnership with the Saudi Ports Authority and ZATCA to launch sea‑to‑air logistics corridors from the western‑coast ports, starting with Jeddah Islamic Port. The initiative enables containers to move under a single customs declaration, dramatically cutting...