Nvidia’s Huang Wants to Sell Chips to China. Trump Has Other Priorities.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will not join President Donald Trump on the administration’s upcoming trip to China, according to media reports. The omission suggests the White House is scaling back efforts to open the Chinese market for U.S. semiconductor firms. Nvidia has recently benefited from a surge in AI chip demand, which has lifted its stock despite the geopolitical headwinds. Analysts see the move as a signal that policy support for China sales may be waning.
Editorial: Sustainable Food Procurement for Healthy Diets in Public and Private Canteens
The editorial surveys a new research collection on sustainable food procurement across public and private canteens, highlighting how procurement policies, menu design, and behavioral interventions can drive healthier, lower‑impact diets. Case studies range from French school feeding programs and Malawi’s...
Titan Charters United LNG I Bunker Vessel
Titan Clean Fuels, now owned by Molgas Energy Group, has chartered United LNG I, a 135‑meter inland‑waterway bunker vessel launched in December 2025. The ship can transport up to 8,000 cubic meters of LNG, liquefied biomethane and, eventually, renewable e‑LNG...
Trump’s Ceasefire Warning Sends Oil Prices Higher Again
President Trump’s warning that the Iran cease‑fire is on “life support” sent Brent crude back toward $110 a barrel, reviving price gains of about 3% this week. Gulf producers, still repairing drone‑damaged facilities, now expect full output recovery only by...
AI’s Supply Chain Problem
In December PJM Interconnection missed its summer 2027 reserve target by about 6,600 MW, a shortfall driven largely by AI data‑center growth that accounts for 94% of projected load. The shortage exposes the lagging pace of power‑infrastructure build‑out—large transformers take roughly...
Surging Asia Vehicle Exports, High/Heavy Rebound Buoy Carrier Operators
Chinese vehicle exports surged 57% year‑over‑year to 2.2 million units in Q1 2026, with hybrid shipments jumping 112% to 514,000 units. The spike is tightening the vehicle‑carrier market, lifting freight rates as capacity lags behind demand. Simultaneously, high‑and‑heavy cargo volumes are...
EcoVadis, Workiva Partner on Scope 3 Data Solutions
EcoVadis and Workiva announced a strategic partnership that links EcoVadis' Carbon Data Network with Workiva's Carbon reporting platform. The integration delivers verified supplier‑level Scope 3 emissions data directly into Workiva's audit‑grade solution, replacing industry averages. Companies can now combine carbon metrics...
America’s Nuclear Shipping Revival Is About More Than Reactors
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and MARAD announced a Request for Information to build a domestic ecosystem for small modular reactor (SMR) powered merchant vessels. The initiative targets not just reactor design but the full regulatory, shipyard, insurance and port...
India Has Adequate Stocks of Fuel Supply, but OMC Losses Could Hit ₹1 Lakh Cr: Minister of Petroleum and Natural...
India’s fuel stocks remain robust, with roughly 60 days of crude and LNG and 45 days of LPG reserves, even as the Strait of Hormuz disruption persists. However, oil‑marketing companies (OMCs) are hemorrhaging about ₹1,000 crore ($120 million) a day, and could...
Inside Amazon’s Push to Open Its Logistics Network to Everyone
Amazon announced it will open its extensive supply‑chain and logistics network to any business, not just sellers on its marketplace. The move stems from seller demand, growing off‑Amazon volume, and the need to detach internal‑only processes. Leveraging its AI‑driven speed,...
Ensure Speedy Completion of Paddy, Maize Procurement, Revanth Tells Officials
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy ordered district collectors to accelerate paddy and maize procurement, citing mounting criticism. He instructed officers to be posted at Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) centres and rice mills to resolve bottlenecks, and demanded sufficient gunny...
Fusion21 Opens Bidding for £350m Repairs Framework
Fusion21 has launched a £350 million (≈$440 million) four‑year responsive repairs and void‑property framework for UK social housing, set to start in October 2026. The procurement, governed by the Procurement Act 2023, is divided into five lots covering repairs, void improvements, security, disrepair and...
NATO to Cultivate Vetted Counter-Drone Vendor Pool for Nations to Pick and Choose
NATO is launching a pilot marketplace that will offer 18 vetted counter‑drone (C‑UAS) systems for member nations to procure quickly. The alliance will invite vendors to pitch by mid‑May, select the solutions within two months, and aim to have contracts...
Soaring Showcases Autonomous Aerial Medical Resupply Capability During U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps 44th Medical Brigade Operational Validation
Soaring participated in the U.S. Army XVIII Airborne Corps 44th Medical Brigade field exercise to validate autonomous Class VIII medical resupply. The company deployed two M25 unmanned aircraft, each delivering up to 25 lb over a 10‑km round trip, and trained soldiers...
Petronas Inks 20-Year Charter Deal for 5 LNG Carriers
Petronas and Malaysia‑based MISC have signed a 20‑year time charter for five new LNG carriers, with deliveries slated for 2029‑2030. MISC will oversee shipbuilding in Shanghai, then operate and manage the vessels, integrating project management and commercial services. The tankers...
Protect Omnichannel Margins With These 4 Fulfillment Automation Strategies
Omnichannel retailers face mounting margin pressure from rising labor costs, volatile freight rates, and complex multi‑channel fulfillment. Automation is emerging as a strategic lever, moving beyond simple cost cuts to improve decision‑making, reduce waste, and boost flexibility. Four key tactics—AI‑driven...
Iran Conflict Drains the Colour From Snack Packs
Japanese snack maker Calbee announced a temporary shift of 14 products, including its flagship potato chips, to black‑and‑white packaging. The move responds to shortages of naphtha‑derived inks and flexible films caused by disruptions in Middle Eastern supply chains linked to...
Container Freight Rates to Middle East Get Boost From Strait of Hormuz Closure
Container freight rates to the Middle East are rising as the Strait of Hormuz closure forces boxships to reroute through alternative ports such as Khor Fakkan in the UAE, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and Salalah in Oman. The rate uplift benefits...
Global Copper Smelting Nosedives in April
Global copper smelting activity plunged in April, driven by a confluence of factors rather than a single event. Maintenance schedules in China curtailed production, while major smelters in Iran and Australia were offline. Chile's flagship Chuquicamata plant reported patchy operations,...
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Exito Announces the South Africa Manufacturing Show 2026
Exito Media Concepts announced the South Africa Manufacturing Show 2026, scheduled for June 11 in Johannesburg. The 33rd edition will convene over 150 C‑level executives and technology leaders to examine AI, IoT, robotics, cybersecurity and sustainable production within the country’s evolving...
The DOJ May Finally Understand What Modern Cargo Theft Really Looks Like
The Department of Justice released an implementation letter that frames modern cargo theft as a cyber‑enabled, organized‑crime problem rather than simple physical theft. The document details how thieves use fake carrier setups, spoofed emails, stolen identities and compromised onboarding systems...
Revolutionising Autonomous Airfreight Through Smart Ground Integration
Grasshopper Air Mobility is developing the GH e350, an autonomous heavy‑cargo drone that can transport palletised loads up to 350 kg and dock directly with warehouse charging and loading stations. The platform consolidates multiple logistics hand‑offs into a single, standardized transfer,...
Tanker Market at ‘Optimal’ Disruption Level as Premiums May Not Keep up with Rates
Stock‑listed tanker owners are seeing share prices climb faster than the underlying vessels, prompting ABG Sundal Collier to question the sustainability of the rally. Analyst Petter Haugen estimates a 30‑40% premium on crude‑tanker owners, which pushes VLCC resale values to...
Chinese Energy Plans to Shake up Shipping, Warns Danish Ship Finance
China’s latest five‑year plan emphasizes energy self‑sufficiency and green logistics, signaling a structural shift in global trade patterns. The plan reinforces the Belt and Road Initiative and encourages new port investments, which could reroute bulk cargo away from traditional Europe‑Asia...
EU Agrees Plan to Tackle Essential Medicine Shortages
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement on the Critical Medicines Act, a legislative package aimed at strengthening the supply chain for essential drugs. The act requires member states to diversify procurement, prioritize EU‑based manufacturing, and launch strategic projects...
South African Table Grape Exports Remain Steady Despite Logistical Challenges
South Africa’s table grape sector posted a modest 0.2% export increase in the 2025/26 season, shipping over 78 million cartons despite a record‑size harvest and severe logistics bottlenecks. Early ripening pushed volumes ahead of schedule, but wind‑driven disruptions and congestion at...
India-Oman FTA Likely to Come Into Force From June 1: Piyush Goyal
India and Oman will activate their free‑trade agreement on June 1, 2026, granting India duty‑free access to 98% of its exports, including textiles, agricultural and leather goods. In return, India will lower tariffs on Omani dates, marble and petrochemical products. Simultaneously, New...
Emirates SkyCargo Reports Solid Cargo Growth for 2025-2026
Emirates SkyCargo transported 2.4 million tonnes of freight in 2025‑26, a 3% rise year‑over‑year. The addition of five Boeing 777F freighters lifted capacity by 13%, bringing the fleet to 13 aircraft with eight more on order. Revenue reached AED 16.2 billion (≈US$4.4 billion), representing...
Pre-Monsoon Buying Keeps Black Pepper Prices Steady
Black pepper prices in India held steady in early May as grinding units in North India increased pre‑monsoon purchases. The domestic market quoted ₹700 per kg (≈$8.5) for ungarbled pepper and ₹720 per kg (≈$8.8) for garbled varieties, with 15‑20 tonnes arriving at the Kochi...
Global Supply Dashboard to Go Live for Public Access on May 15
Malaysia’s Economy Ministry and the Department of Statistics will launch the Global Supply Crisis Monitoring Dashboard for public use on May 15, 2026. The portal features ten sub‑menus covering energy, commodities, cost of living, economic performance, FX rates and trade...
FOS Picks Incat Crowther to Design Fast CTV Fleet for Shell’s Brunei Ops
Fast Offshore Supply (FOS) has chosen Incat Crowther to design a fleet of ten 55‑metre DP2 fast crew transfer vessels for Brunei Shell Petroleum. The aluminium vessels will carry up to 80 passengers and 150 tonnes of cargo at 30 knots, with...
Taiwan in Talks with Iran to Rescue Eight Container Ships Trapped in Middle East
Taiwan is negotiating with Iran to secure safe passage for eight Taiwanese‑flagged container vessels currently stranded in the Gulf region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reached out to Iranian authorities, and the Maritime Port Bureau is monitoring the ships’...
Weekly Airfreight Rate Rises Mostly Ease
Global airfreight rates are cooling after two months of sharp gains, with the Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI00) edging up just 0.4% in the week to May 11. Despite the weekly pause, the index remains 35.8% higher year‑on‑year, still far above...
The Iran War Is Taking the Color Out of Japan’s Best-Known Snack Bags
Calbee, Japan's leading snack maker, announced it will temporarily replace its iconic colorful plastic bags with black‑and‑white packaging. The change stems from a shortage of naphtha, a petroleum‑derived solvent essential for ink production, caused by the Iran war’s impact on...
China Axes Tariffs for African Imports, but What Does This Mean for South African Wine?
From May 1, China eliminated tariffs on products from 53 African nations under the China‑Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, including South African wine. The first tariff‑free shipment saw 6,000 bottles cleared at Shenzhen Bay, removing a 14‑20% duty. The pact runs until...
Uniper Flexes Diversified Procurement Portfolio as Profit Rises
Uniper SE reported a Q1 adjusted net profit of €231 million (≈$271 million), reversing a €143 million loss from the same period last year. The German utility highlighted its diversified gas and LNG procurement strategy, which excludes Middle‑East sources and cushions it from...
Poland Wants to Adopt the Japanese Model for Train Stations and Rail Services
Polish state‑owned railway PKP S.A. and Japan’s JR East signed a memorandum of cooperation on May 6 to exchange expertise in station management, digitalisation, and passenger services. The partnership will explore transit‑oriented development, energy‑efficient infrastructure, and AI‑driven maintenance. Joint workshops, study...
Amazon Launches 30-Minute Delivery Across the U.S.
Amazon unveiled “Amazon Now,” a 30‑minute delivery service available in ten U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Dallas‑Fort Worth, Philadelphia and Seattle, with plans to expand to tens of millions of customers by year‑end. The offering covers thousands of items—from fresh groceries to...
NESI and Vulcan Break Ground on German Lithium Refinery
NESI and Vulcan have begun construction on a 24,000‑tonne‑per‑year lithium refinery in Frankfurt, marking Europe’s first commercial‑scale electrochemical lithium‑refining facility. The plant is designed to produce enough lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) for roughly 500,000 electric‑vehicle batteries each year. NESI recently...
US Clothing Imports From China Slip Further in March as Asian Rivals Gain Ground
U.S. apparel imports fell 5.6% in March 2026, with China experiencing the steepest decline as buyers pivot to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian producers. Seven of the ten largest U.S. apparel suppliers reported lower shipment volumes from China. The shift...
Gwadar’s Moment Has Finally Arrived for Pakistan
In April 2026 Gwadar Port processed about 11,000 standard containers, eclipsing the 8,300 handled across all of 2025. The surge was triggered by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting shippers to reroute through the deep‑water, 400 km‑proximate port. Decades of China‑Pakistan...
DHL Express Signs Its First Middle East SAF Offtake Agreement
DHL Express has signed its first Middle East sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offtake agreement with Dubai‑based SAF One. The deal grants DHL access to 25,000 metric tons of unblended SAF per year, totalling 250,000 tons over a ten‑year period beginning...
Steel Tariffs Are Raising the Price of Canned Foods
President Trump’s 50% steel tariff, imposed under Section 232, has driven up the cost of tin‑plate steel used for cans. Despite the tariff, imports of the material surged in 2025, leaving U.S. can makers dependent on foreign supply. A tin can...
The World Needs Africa. That Does Not Mean Africa Wins
Africa’s vast critical‑mineral reserves have thrust the continent into the center of the emerging global order, yet it captures less than 1% of clean‑energy manufacturing value. The competition among China, the United States, the European Union and Gulf states now...
Rhenus Opens Dangerous Goods Warehouse in Bangkok
Rhenus Group has opened a 5,817 sqm dangerous‑goods warehouse adjacent to its KM19 facility in Bangna Trad, Bangkok. The purpose‑built site meets stringent DG compliance with fire‑rated walls, explosion‑proof systems and dedicated ventilation. Thailand’s warehousing sector is projected to grow 8.7%...
Japanese Helicopter Operator Tohoku Air Services Orders a SD-05 eVTOL From SkyDrive
SkyDrive has signed a Letter of Intent with Tohoku Air Service, the helicopter arm of Tohoku Electric Power, to supply a Model SD-05 electric vertical‑takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The agreement targets delivery in 2028, marking SkyDrive’s first sale to...
Shifting Supply Chains in the Era of Photonics
The article titled “Shifting supply chains in the era of photonics” appears to be unavailable, offering only a 404 error page. Nonetheless, the headline signals a growing focus on how photonics manufacturers are re‑engineering their supply chains amid component shortages,...
Rail Figures in Blyth Port Expansion Plan
The Port of Blyth is advancing a £100 million (≈$117 million) expansion of its Battleship Wharf terminal, focusing on new quay infrastructure, dredging and land reclamation. A 420‑metre rail loading facility already links the terminal to the national freight network, supporting the...
ČD Retires “Hydra” DMUs After More than 55 Years of Service
Czech national railway ČD has withdrawn its 854‑series “Hydra” diesel multiple units after more than 55 years of service. The last scheduled run took place on May 7 on the Kladno‑Rakovník segment. Hydra railcars will be succeeded by three‑car 814.2 Regionova...
Boon Siew Honda Opens New Centralised Spare Parts Warehouse for Malaysia
Boon Siew Honda has opened a new 514‑square‑meter Centralised Spare Parts warehouse at its Batu Kawan headquarters, a 238% increase over its previous facility. The expanded space enables systematic inventory arrangement and integrates inbound, storage, and outbound processes under one...