‘I’m Not Doing This for Fun, I’m Fully Committed’: HBI Investor on $5.7 Bln Green Steel Push in Brazil
Brazil Iron’s Bahia project is a $5.7 billion effort to produce up to 15 million tonnes per year of hot‑briquetted iron (HBI), positioning Brazil as a major supplier of green steel feedstock. The venture has already invested about $1.7 billion, with 85% of financing soft‑circulated through export‑credit agencies, and aims to start production by 2030. Global analysts warn of a potential HBI shortfall of over 100 million tonnes annually, driven by CBAM, Japanese subsidies and OEM demand for low‑carbon steel. Saxton expects the project to generate 55,000 jobs and substantial tax revenue.
IEA: $60bn of Investment Needed to Diversify Global Rare Earth Supply Chains
The International Energy Agency warns that China's grip on rare‑earth supply chains jeopardises up to $6.5 trillion of global economic activity each year. It estimates that roughly $60 billion of investment over the next decade is required to build diversified sources for...
ABL Completes Multi-Phase Transport of Northern Endeavour FPSO to Recycling Yard
Australian marine services firm ABL has completed the final stage of transporting the Northern Endeavour FPSO from Australia to a recycling facility in Frederikshavn, Denmark. The multi‑phase operation included riser and mooring disconnection, a wet tow to Singapore, dry‑dock modifications,...
Air Freight Rates Surge Ahead of Ceasefire, While Fuel Fears Cloud Outlook
Air freight rates kept climbing despite a two‑week Middle East ceasefire, with the Baltic Air Freight Index up 15.8% year‑on‑year and Asian lanes near 30% higher. The surge stems from a sudden 30% capacity loss on the Asia‑Europe corridor after...
UAVOS Introduces Advanced Composite Rotor Blades Manufactured withCore Sintering Technology
UAVOS announced the launch of composite rotor blades built with a core‑sintering process that shapes the internal lattice without any post‑machining. The technique delivers higher geometric stability, stronger structural reliability and lower manufacturing costs. The blades, featuring carbon multi‑cross‑layer construction,...
‘Book Short, Stay Flexible’ as Ecommerce Evolution Looms
The EU will eliminate its de‑minimis exemption for e‑commerce parcels on July 1, prompting a pre‑deadline rush that could flood the Asia‑Europe air‑freight lane and push rates higher. Capacity is already tight because roughly one‑third of the route relies on Middle‑East...
Swedish PaperShell Lands €40.3M From EU Innovation Fund to Expand Production
Swedish startup PaperShell secured up to €40.3 million (about $44 million) from the EU Innovation Fund to scale its fossil‑free composite material. The non‑dilutive financing will fund a new production plant in Tibro, slated to start operations by 2030 and serve as...
Feelings Run High as HMM Seemingly Pushes for Move to Busan
South Korea’s flagship carrier HMM appointed three Busan‑based non‑executive directors at its recent AGM, intensifying concerns that the company will relocate its headquarters from Seoul to Busan as pledged by President Lee Jae‑myung. The HMM Land Workers’ Union filed a...
Two French ‘Combi’ Players Forge Strategic Partnership
French combined‑transport operators Open Modal and Be Modal have formed a strategic partnership, creating a joint logistics hub at Valenton near Paris. The collaboration enables capacity‑sharing on the Lille‑Paris/Valenton corridor and adds a new service linking Paris‑Valenton with Lyon‑Vénissieux, a...
Ukraine Torches Putin’s Iran War Windfall, as EU Allies Sweat over High Energy Prices
Ukraine’s intensified drone and missile strikes have knocked out roughly 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity, cutting about one million barrels per day from the market. The Kremlin responded by expanding a gasoline export ban to all producers until July...
Oslo Airport Outlines New Cargo Hub Development
Oslo Airport has launched a comprehensive modernization plan that includes relocating its cargo facilities to the west side of the airfield and optimizing runway usage. The new cargo hub will free up space for passenger expansion while bolstering capacity for...
Peace or Illusion? U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Reopens Tourism, Skies, and Shipping—But for How Long?
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire, mediated by Pakistan, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing immediate oil‑price pressures. Gulf shipping firms are resuming transit but face higher insurance costs, while airlines are launching a...
Zambia Copper Rail Link to Cost up to $5bn
A new 830‑kilometre railway will connect Zambia’s copper belt to Angola’s deep‑water port of Lobito, with construction slated to start this year and finish by 2030. The project’s cost is estimated between $3 billion and $5 billion, covering tracks, stations and rolling...
Ottawa’s Critical Minerals Push Will only Be as Successful as the Infrastructure Behind It
Canada aims to boost its share of global critical‑minerals supply from the current 2% to as much as 14% by 2040, leveraging abundant deposits across the country. The federal First and Last Mile Fund pledges roughly $1.1 billion USD in financing...
Ottawa’s Critical Minerals Push Will only Be as Successful as the Infrastructure Behind It
Canada’s government aims to boost its critical mineral output to as much as 14% of global supply by 2040, up from the current 2% share. To achieve this, Ottawa has launched the First and Last Mile Fund, committing up to...
Infrastructure Works and Wagon Rules Harmed Swiss Rail Freight in 2025
Swiss rail freight continued its downward trajectory in 2025, with tonne‑kilometres dropping between 12% and 18% across quarters and total weight falling 13.5% year‑on‑year. The transalpine modal share slipped to 68.6%, the first dip below 70% since the mid‑2010s. Ongoing...
Obsolete Xilinx IC Chips: Sourcing & Replacement Solutions
Companies needing discontinued Xilinx FPGA chips can now source them via a dedicated platform that matches requests with verified global suppliers within 24‑48 hours. The service also offers replacement options, including newer AMD‑Xilinx families, alternative vendors, or ASIC redesigns. Obsolete...
Hard-to-Find IC Chips: Global Sourcing & Supply Solutions
A specialized sourcing platform connects manufacturers with a global network of verified distributors to locate rare, discontinued, or hard‑to‑source IC chips. By submitting part numbers, quantity and contact details, users receive supplier matches within 24–48 hours, reducing the time spent...
EOL Semiconductor Components: Sourcing & Replacement Solutions
End‑of‑life (EOL) semiconductor components are no longer manufactured, creating sourcing challenges and supply‑chain risk. Companies can address the gap by buying remaining inventory, executing a last‑time buy, or redesigning with newer parts. AnySilicon’s platform connects buyers with a global network...
£3.5bn Government Contracts Awarded for Global Infrastructure Projects but Supplier Names Withheld
The UK Government Commercial Agency awarded £3.5 billion (≈ $4.4 billion) of contracts across eleven lots covering defence, nuclear, infrastructure and flood‑risk services. One supplier per lot was selected, but names are hidden under Section 94 of the Procurement Act 2023 for national‑security reasons. The...
Obsolete Semiconductors: Sourcing, Replacement & Supply Solutions
Obsolete semiconductors are components no longer produced or supported, creating scarcity and price pressure for legacy products. Companies face production delays, counterfeit risk, and costly redesigns when critical ICs disappear. The article outlines three mitigation paths—sourcing existing stock, finding pin‑compatible...
Carbios Adjusts Longlaville Facility Launch Plans
Carbios is moving forward with its Longlaville chemical‑recycling plant, which will handle 50,000 tonnes of post‑consumer PET waste each year. The project’s €230 million (~$251 million) construction budget is anchored by €42.5 million ($49 million) of public funds, with the remainder expected from debt, French...
Sulzer Joins Spinnova Ecosystem to Support Textile Fibre Availability
Swiss engineering firm Sulzer has entered a co‑development agreement with Finnish textile innovator Spinnova to accelerate the commercial scale‑up of Spinnova’s sustainable fiber technology. Sulzer will provide expertise in pumping, mixing and fiber suspension flows, aiming to make the production...
Geopolitics Derails Textile Climate Plans
Geopolitical tensions and war‑driven energy shocks are eroding confidence across the global textile value chain, according to the International Textile Manufacturers Federation’s 37th Global Textile Industry Survey released in March 2026. The survey shows industry confidence at its lowest point...
Turn Quotes Into PRs in Seconds | Precoro's AI for Intake
Precoro has added an AI‑powered Intake feature that automatically transforms supplier quotations—PDFs, spreadsheets or photos—into structured purchase requisitions. The engine extracts item names, quantities, prices, supplier details and other line‑item data within seconds, eliminating manual entry. Integrated with Precoro’s existing...
Guidance: Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) enforces the Groceries (Supply Chain Practices) Market Investigation Order 2009, requiring the ten largest grocery retailers to comply with the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). The Order obliges designated retailers—including Amazon, B&M, Home...
AERO Launches as First General Access Network Exclusively for Airfreight Forwarders
AERO Logistics Network has launched as the air cargo industry’s first general‑access, non‑exclusive platform built solely for airfreight forwarders. The network uses AI‑driven verification, an algorithmic matching system, and collective buying power to connect vetted members and unlock carrier incentives....
WiseTech CEO Zubin Appoo: Why Logistics Must Get Ahead of Major Events and Risk
WiseTech CEO Zubin Appoo warned that the March shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, triggered by the Middle East war, exposed how quickly supply chains can be crippled by geopolitical events. He noted that vessel transits collapsed from over a...
Just Eat and Starship Technologies Launch Delivery Robots in Barnsley
Just Eat and Starship Technologies have launched a pilot of self‑driving delivery robots in Barnsley, the UK’s first government‑designated “tech town.” The service will operate in four neighbourhoods—Carlton, Athersley, Monk Bretton and Lundwood—covering roughly 11,000 households. The robots aim to replace...
Europe at a Turning Point for PCB Base Materials
Europe’s PCB base‑material market has narrowed to a single supplier, Isola GmbH, and one copper‑foil producer, CircuitFoil, after the loss of woven electronic‑glass manufacturers. OEMs in space, aerospace and defence are now prioritising supply‑chain security and reliability over cost, shifting...
The Jundiz Intermodal Terminal Enters the Concession Process
Spain’s railway infrastructure manager Adif has opened a tender for a six‑year concession to operate the Jundiz Intermodal terminal in Vitoria‑Gasteiz. The winning operator must invest roughly $1.4 million and will manage a 55,000 m² loading area, including mixed‑gauge tracks that accommodate...
Safe Evacuation of Ships, Seafarers From the Gulf a Priority
The International Maritime Organization and the International Chamber of Shipping welcomed a 14‑day U.S.–Iran cease‑fire, aiming to evacuate roughly 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Gulf after the Strait of Hormuz was closed in late February. IMO Secretary‑General...
Mærsk in the Crosshairs: Hutchison Opens a New Legal Front over Panama
CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company has launched arbitration proceedings directly against APM Terminals, the terminal arm of Danish carrier Maersk, over the recent Panama Canal port transition. The claim now exceeds $2 billion, expanding beyond the original dispute with the Panamanian...
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Supplies Glass Substrate Samples to Apple
Samsung Electro-Mechanics has begun supplying glass substrate samples to Apple, expanding beyond its earlier collaboration with Broadcom. The glass core replaces organic material in flip‑chip BGA substrates, offering superior flatness and lower thermal expansion, which is critical as AI chips...
Genesem Secures Orders From Three Major Indian Semiconductor Packaging Customers
Genesem has secured three major Indian semiconductor packaging contracts, including a 5 billion‑won (~$3.8 million) order from company C and a 15 billion‑won (~$11.3 million) order from company K. The company projects Indian revenue of 20‑25 billion won (~$15‑$19 million) this year, roughly a quarter of...
When It Comes to Tech’s Software Dependency, What Does ‘Buy European’ Even Mean?
The article argues that Europe’s “Buy European” approach to digital sovereignty is fragile because it focuses on ownership and location rather than licensing and supply‑chain resilience. Proprietary software can lose its sovereign status after a merger or acquisition, while open‑source...
France Leads 15-Country Effort to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
France is heading a coalition of about fifteen countries to restart commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after a U.S.-Iran cease‑fire was announced. The strait moves roughly one‑fifth of global oil, about five million barrels daily, making its reopening...
Iran Conflict: Is Ceasefire Too Little, Too Late for Global Food?
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire that temporarily reopens the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian military coordination. The strait carries about 30 % of global fertilizer shipments, making its partial reopening critical for agricultural input supplies....
Alstom Retains Contract for Automated Train System at the World’s Busiest Airport
Alstom secured a five‑year extension to operate and maintain the Plane Train automated people‑mover at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest hub. The deal, valued at roughly €140 million (about $153 million), continues a partnership dating back to 1980. In 2025...
EVE Energy Plans CN¥11bn Expansion as Q1 Profit Surges
Chinese battery maker Eve Energy announced two new plants costing about $1.6 bn, adding 110 GWh of annual capacity for EV and energy‑storage batteries. The expansion, split between a 50 GWh Jiangsu facility and a 60 GWh Fujian joint‑venture, pushes Eve to become China’s...
Globe Air Cargo Dominican Republic Appointed GSSA for Uniworld
Globe Air Cargo Dominican Republic, an ECS Group subsidiary, signed a General Sales and Service Agreement with Uniworld Air Cargo to launch a twice‑weekly Boeing 737 freighter service between Punta Cana (PUJ) and Panama City (PTY). The route, operating since...
Procurement Reform Underpins Stockholm Bus Rollout
Stockholm aims to raise its electric bus share from 20% to roughly 30% by the end of 2026 and target a fully electric fleet by 2035, building on a decade‑long renewable‑fuel foundation. The transition is underpinned by Sweden’s ten‑year public‑transport...
Shipping Cost Pressures Intensify for UK Ecommerce Sellers
UK ecommerce sellers are grappling with sharply rising shipping costs, with 84% reporting higher last‑mile expenses and 39% seeing increases above 10% in the past year. The last‑mile now accounts for 53% of total delivery spend, squeezing margins even as...
Alstom Delivers Romania’s First Next-Gen Traxx Electric Locomotive
Alstom has delivered the first of a 16‑unit Traxx Passenger electric locomotive programme for Romania’s Railway Reform Authority, marking the start of a €150 million ($165 million) contract that includes 20 years of maintenance. The four‑axle unit, ARF002, arrived on 7 April at Bucharest’s...
Tricel Strengthens Its Position in the Composites Sector Through the Acquisition of Matrix Composite Materials
Tricel Group completed the acquisition of UK distributor Matrix Composite Materials on 1 April 2026, adding a Bristol‑based supplier of epoxy systems, carbon‑fibre reinforcements and vacuum consumables. Matrix, founded in 1997, serves automotive, marine, motorsport, offshore and chemical processing sectors and maintains...
Versuni Pumps Rs 180 Cr Into India Manufacturing; Eyes 80 Pc Localisation by 2027
Versuni India is investing roughly $22 million (Rs 180 crore) to expand its Chennai and Ahmedabad plants, allocating about $16 million to Chennai and $6 million to Ahmedabad. The upgrades will boost air‑fryer motor capacity to 750,000 units per year in Chennai and double output...
Does the Iran Ceasefire Mean the Fuel Crisis Is Over? Not Even Close
A temporary cease‑fire in the Iran‑Israel conflict has opened the Strait of Hormuz, but the damage to Gulf oil infrastructure means the global fuel crunch will linger for months. The war removed roughly 11 million barrels per day from the market,...
RailFreight Webinar – The Role of Combined Transport During a Fuel Crisis
The ongoing war in Iran has driven oil prices to record highs, prompting a renewed look at fuel‑independent logistics. A free RailFreight webinar on April 13 will examine how combined rail‑intermodal transport can mitigate the current crisis, featuring UIRR policy advisor...
Putzger Perspective: Express Staff Cuts
The U.S. Department of Transportation reported 29,185 cargo airline job losses in December, with FedEx accounting for 29,113 of them. Most cuts affect non‑flight staff because FedEx now classifies all workers as airline employees after merging Express and Ground. UPS...
Managing Uncertainty in North America’s Air Cargo Supply Chain
North American air freight forwarders face mounting uncertainty from a DHS shutdown, reduced passenger‑flight belly capacity, and volatile tariff policies. The Airforwarders Association warns that 80% of members have seen shipping volumes dip as schedule changes and trade‑policy shifts force...
