Moroccan Rail Freight Growth Carried by Phosphates
Moroccan rail freight volumes rose 8% year‑on‑year in 2025, reaching 23 million tonnes and generating roughly €181 million in revenue. The surge is driven largely by phosphate transportation, as the country’s exports of the mineral jumped 21% in the first seven months, valued at €5.2 billion. Morocco holds about 70% of the world’s known phosphate reserves, making the commodity a cornerstone of its rail logistics. Rail’s cost advantage and reliability position it as the preferred mode for moving large mineral flows to Europe and beyond.
Rio Tinto Signs Mining Electrification MoU with CATL
Rio Tinto and battery giant CATL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate electrification across mining operations. The partnership will develop strategies for battery‑powered equipment, supply‑chain integration, and circular‑economy initiatives such as battery material recycling. CATL will contribute its...
Government, Industry Launch Network to Help Australian Exporters Diversify
The Australian Government and industry groups launched the Trade Diversification Network (TDN) on 4 March as part of the $50 million Accessing New Markets Initiative. The network brings together 40 national peak bodies to provide coordinated market‑intelligence, trade services and sector‑specific support...
Nvidia Refocuses TSMC Capacity as Export Controls Stall China Sales
Nvidia is redirecting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) production capacity away from chips destined for the Chinese market after U.S. export controls limited its sales. The chipmaker is prioritising higher‑margin data‑center and automotive GPUs for customers outside China, while TSMC...
Why an Obscure Rail Tax Credit Should Matter to Truckers
Railroads gathered on Capitol Hill to push a modernized 45G tax credit, which reimburses 40% of rail infrastructure spending up to $3,500 per mile. The industry cites more than $8 billion in investments and a 50% reduction in derailments since the...
Child-Safety Focus Drives New Washing Machine Design Standard Ahead of 2026 Deadline
Standards Australia amended AS/NZS 60335.2.7 to mandate a dual‑action start mechanism for washing machines sold in Australia and New Zealand from July 2026. The change, driven by child‑safety incidents such as the 2021 Christchurch tragedy, requires two distinct user inputs before a cycle...
Opportunities Are Emerging for Port Investors Even Despite Signs of Deglobalisation
Port investors are re‑evaluating asset values as global trade patterns shift, despite growing signs of de‑globalisation. The sector’s relative valuation is being reassessed against alternative infrastructure classes, revealing new upside potential. Analysts note that bottlenecks, supply‑chain diversification, and emerging trade...
Push to Attract More Women Into Queensland Manufacturing Careers
Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) has launched a new campaign to draw more women into the state’s $28.9 billion manufacturing sector, which faces acute skills shortages. The initiative centers on the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program, featuring female professionals from boilermaking to rocket...
Manufacturing Begins on Guided Missiles in Australia, Defence Says
The Australian Defence Department has launched domestic production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) at a new facility in Port Wakefield, South Australia. The first batch of missiles is slated for completion by mid‑March 2026, marking the first GMLRS...
Manufacturing Reform Urged to Unlock Clean Aluminium Recycling Opportunity
The Australian Aluminium Council released an L.E.K. Consulting report urging policy reform to unlock large‑scale clean aluminium recycling. While recycling consumes only about five percent of the energy required for primary production, high energy costs, tight scrap margins and fragmented...
The US Is Unlikely to Curtail China’s Critical Minerals Dominance
The United States convened a critical‑minerals summit to curb China’s overwhelming role in battery and electric‑vehicle supply chains, but China still controls over 80 percent of global lithium‑ion battery production and 90 percent of grid‑scale storage. Washington has taken minority stakes in...
UK Rail Research Leader Speaks on Manufacturing, Collaboration in Melbourne
Luisa Moisio, Director of Research at the UK Rail Safety and Standards Board, delivered the 13th Stephen Marich Annual Lecture at Monash University, outlining two decades of British rail research collaboration. She emphasized the UK Rail Technical Strategy and the...
Fastmarkets Proposes to Change Mexico Non-Ferrous Scrap Units
Fastmarkets announced it will convert its Mexico non‑ferrous scrap price assessments from peso per pound to peso per kilogram. The change aligns the pricing units with the kilogram‑based invoicing and contract norms used by most suppliers, processors and buyers in...
Port of the Future 2026: A Look Back, a Path Forward
The Port of the Future Conference, launched in 2019 by Dr. Tony Ambler and now directed by Kevin Clement, brings together maritime operators, academia, and policymakers to explore next‑generation port technologies. Its agenda spotlights AI, automation, digitalization, and decarbonization, offering...
Target Begins Roll Out of Next-Day Delivery to 20 More Cities
Target Corp. announced it will extend its next‑day delivery service to 20 additional metropolitan areas, pushing the total number of cities offering the option to more than 50 and covering roughly 60% of the U.S. population. The rollout is part...
TPM26: Europe’s Persistent Port Congestion Won’t Be Remedied by Short-Term Fixes
Europe’s main import gateways suffer from chronic buffer‑capacity shortages, turning port congestion into a persistent bottleneck rather than a fleeting disruption. Industry leaders warn that the lack of short‑term remedies will continue to erode vessel schedule reliability and strain inventory...
Is Single Sourcing, or Sole Sourcing, Dead?
The COVID‑19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of supply chains that rely on single or sole sourcing, as lockdowns and demand spikes caused widespread stockouts. Single sourcing can secure lower prices and simplify supplier management, but it leaves firms vulnerable when...
CSCMP Edge Show to Feature Keynote Address by Marini
The 2026 30th Annual Third‑Party Logistics Study reveals that only 55 % of outsourced logistics spend is classified as strategic partnerships, highlighting a gap between rhetoric and reality. Shippers cite supply‑chain disruption, cost optimisation and digital transformation as primary drivers, while 3PLs...
Victoria Expands Battery Recycling Network with 50 New Collection Points
The Victorian Government announced the addition of 50 new battery recycling collection points, supplementing upgrades at 17 existing sites, to make disposal safer and easier. Funding will support local councils and registered charities, with more than 30 locations placed in...
Webinar Summary: US Supreme Court Ruling Triggers Major Shifts in US Trade Enforcement Strategy
The U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20 decision declared all tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal, immediately halting collection and creating uncertainty for importers. In response, the administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act, imposing a...
Armon Shipyard Delivers MAURIC Fast Ferry Bindy II
Spanish shipyard Armon has delivered the MAURIC‑designed Fast Ferry Bindy II to Morlenn Express, a 29‑meter catamaran capable of carrying 400 passengers at 20 knots. The vessel features an all‑aluminum wave‑piercer hull and IMO Tier III‑compliant engines, meeting the latest European passenger‑vessel directives....
Is Myanmar’s Military Government Planning Airstrikes on Rare Earth Mines?
A potential supply shock emerged as Myanmar's junta reportedly plans airstrikes on rare‑earth mines in the Kachin‑controlled Pang War region. Chinese mining firms responded by raising national flags on sites and ordering bomb‑shelter construction to signal locations to aircraft. China...
Middle East War Puts Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks in Limbo
Container lines have halted 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific service contract negotiations as the Middle East war ties up roughly 10% of global container tonnage and pushes bunker fuel prices higher. The conflict adds uncertainty to cost structures and functional capacity, prompting carriers...
Middle East War Slows Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks Further
Container carriers are pausing or slowing 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific service contract negotiations as they gauge the fallout from the Middle East war. The conflict has immobilized an estimated 2 %‑10 % of global container tonnage, tightening available capacity. Simultaneously, soaring bunker fuel prices...
EU Unveils Maritime Industrial and Ports Strategies to Boost Shipbuilding, Security, and Decarbonization
The European Commission unveiled two coordinated initiatives—the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy—to reinforce Europe’s shipbuilding capacity, secure port operations, and accelerate the sector’s shift to clean energy. Key measures include a Maritime Value Chains Alliance, a...
Qatar LNG Shutdown Sends Global Gas Markets Into Turmoil
Qatar Energy declared force majeure on its LNG exports, halting production at the Ras Laffan plant amid the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The shutdown, which affects roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas, is expected to last at least...
Lawmakers Question Intel’s Use of Tools From Blacklisted Chinese Firm
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators sent a letter to Intel CEO Lip‑Bu Tan questioning the chipmaker’s use of semiconductor tools from ACM Research, a Chinese subsidiary on the U.S. blacklist. The inquiry underscores national‑security concerns, especially after the U.S....
Perspective From Zebra Technologies: Pocket Automation – the Pragmatic Path to a Resilient Supply Chain in 2026
Zebra Technologies argues that by 2026 the most effective supply‑chain upgrade will be "pocket automation"—targeted, workflow‑level upgrades rather than full‑site, lights‑out factories. The approach promises ROI within 24 months, leveraging AI‑enabled handhelds, wearables and RFID to augment frontline workers. Incremental...
Brokers Note Rising Middle East Demand Following Outbreak of War
Cargo charter brokers report a surge in enquiries after the US‑Israel missile strikes on Iran triggered the grounding of major Gulf carriers. Qatar Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo and Etihad Cargo have largely halted scheduled flights, prompting shippers to seek ad‑hoc charters....
Business Central AI Forecasts Now Drive Planning Parameters with Enhanced Forecasting Worksheet
Insight Works has extended its Enhanced Forecasting Worksheet to link Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central AI forecasts directly to item planning parameters such as safety stock, reorder point, and maximum inventory. Users can create expressions that combine forecast quantities, historical...
Ahold Delhaize Transitions to Cage-Free Eggs in the US by 2032
Ahold Delhaize announced a new timeline to source 100% cage‑free eggs in the United States by 2032, after missing its original 2025 target. The retailer currently offers cage‑free eggs for roughly 75% of its private‑label range, leaving a quarter still sourced...
Glamox to Light US Navy’s Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship
Glamox has won a contract from Austal USA to supply exterior and interior LED marine lighting for the upcoming USNS James D. Fairbanks (T‑ATS‑13), the latest Navajo‑Class towing, salvage and rescue ship for the U.S. Navy. The deal adds a...
Comau Expands Wearable Robotics with New Mate-XT GO Exoskeleton
Comau has introduced the Mate‑XT GO, a sub‑3 kg wearable exoskeleton that supports arm and shoulder movements for repetitive or overhead tasks. Certified as Category II personal protective equipment, it can be donned in 30 seconds and removed in 10 seconds, delivering up to 50 percent...
ANYbotics Achieves ISO 27001 Certification
ANYbotics earned ISO 27001 certification on its first audit, achieving zero non‑conformities. The independent, third‑party audit validates the company’s world‑class Information Security Management System. Certification directly benefits customers operating robots in hazardous and mission‑critical environments by embedding security into design, build,...
Packaging Corner: The Digital Wolf Whistle for Returnable Containers
Digital Matter’s CEO Loic Barancourt outlines a hybrid IoT tracking system that combines cellular and Bluetooth tags to monitor returnable containers. By tagging only a fraction of assets, companies can slash loss rates from roughly 20% to under 1% and...
Lift Truck Tips: Attachments Make Odd Jobs Faster and Safer
Lift‑truck attachments, especially paper‑roll clamps, are transforming material handling by reducing damage and speeding up transport. Bolzoni emphasizes custom‑engineered solutions that match each roll’s dimensions, allowing operators to move products faster with fewer workers. The company highlights safety gains from...
Ensuring People’s Well-Being Amid Fears of War Escalation
Rising tensions between Iran and Israel have revived concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for nearly one‑fifth of global oil shipments. Analysts outline three scenarios: a contained but prolonged missile exchange, a broader regional war...
Fraud First: Why ‘Broker Transparency’ Misses the Mark
The article contends that the FMCSA’s push to tighten broker transparency under 49 CFR 371.3 misses the larger problem of freight fraud, which has generated over 80,000 complaints. It traces the rule’s origins to a 1949 ICC mandate and its...
Critical Conversations with Dave Larimer
Dave Larimer, president of the Alaska Miners Association, argues that Alaska’s vast and geologically diverse mineral endowment is a strategic national asset for critical‑mineral supply chains. He stresses that beyond mining, building mid‑stream processing, reliable power, and transportation infrastructure is...
Rising Sanctions, Compliance Complexity Increase Global Shipping Risks
Maritime firms are confronting a surge in sanctions and compliance complexity as regulators demand pre‑emptive risk detection, according to Marcura’s new report. Divergent US, EU and other sanctions regimes, expanding secondary sanctions, and an opaque shadow fleet are amplifying exposure...
Middle East Conflict: Airspace Closures to Cause Supply Chain Chaos and Spiralling Freight Rates
Escalating Middle East conflict has forced airspace closures that instantly removed roughly 16‑18% of global air‑cargo capacity, with localized impacts of up to 70% in key markets such as India. The sudden shortage mirrors the COVID‑era shock, prompting freight rates...
TPM26: US Trucking Crackdown Likely to Have Delayed Impact on Drayage Sector
A congressional proposal known as Delilah’s Law would strip thousands of non‑English‑speaking and non‑domiciled commercial driver’s license holders from U.S. roads, intensifying a broader Trump‑era trucking crackdown. Panelists at TPM26 argued that the drayage sector, especially at ports like Long Beach,...
Old Dominion ‘Encouraged’ as Declines Moderate in February
Old Dominion Freight Line reported a 3.3% year‑over‑year decline in revenue per day for February, an improvement over the 6.8% drop in January. Tonnage fell 6.8% YoY and daily shipments slipped 7%, while weight per shipment rose 0.2% and yield...
DHL Express Workers Threaten Strike if No Contract by March 31
Teamsters members at DHL Express voted 96% to authorize a strike if the national master agreement isn’t renewed by March 31, 2026. The contract, covering thousands of drivers and warehouse workers across 16 states, is set to expire and the union is...
Tariff Roundtable Looks at What Happens Next for Supply Chains
A week after the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, industry leaders report little immediate impact on sourcing, freight bookings, or trade volumes. Companies are adopting a cautious stance, reviewing inventory and carrier commitments while holding existing network configurations. The ruling provides...
LGG Connect Adds 13th Member
LGG Connect, the non‑profit air cargo association based at Liege Airport, announced that global ULD leasing firm ACL Airshop has joined as its 13th associate member. Founded in December 2024, the group brings together airlines, handlers, freight forwarders and service providers to...
Hitachi Rail to Deliver Driverless Trains and Signalling for Turin Metro Line 2
Hitachi Rail has secured a €481.6 million contract to supply rolling stock and a Communications‑Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system for Turin Metro Line 2. The deal covers a €388.5 million base segment from Rebaudengo to Porta Nuova, with an optional €93.1 million extension to...
Diana Rolls Panamax Bulker Into Improved SwissMarine Fixture
Greek dry‑bulk carrier Diana Shipping has secured a new time charter for its 77,525 dwt panamax vessel Crystalia. The ship will sail for SwissMarine at $16,200 per day, minus 5% commission, from mid‑March 2026 through early 2027. This rate exceeds the...
Press Release: SkySelect Raises $9m to Fix Aviation’s $11bn Supply Chain Crisis with AI Procurement
SkySelect announced a $9 million funding round to scale its AI‑powered aviation procurement platform, aiming to alleviate the $11 billion supply‑chain crisis highlighted by IATA. Airlines spend $60 billion annually on parts, yet manual processes generate $50 billion in excess inventory and grounding delays....
Afghanistan and Pakistan Are Facing ‘Open War’. De-Escalation Is Needed
Escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have erupted into open war, with Pakistan conducting air strikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Bagram, and the Taliban responding by targeting Pakistani military sites. The conflict follows a surge in cross‑border attacks by groups...