Swiss Post Deploys Kempower Charging Stations for Electric Buses and Trucks
Swiss Post has installed a Kempower DC fast‑charging system at its new Villmergen logistics centre, marking a key step in electrifying its fleet of roughly 2,400 buses and trucks. The rollout includes 16 charging points—14 control units with cable arms and two liquid‑cooled satellite chargers—capable of serving both e‑buses and e‑trucks. Jebsen & Jessen supplied the technology while utility Repower handled planning, installation and commissioning. The flexible, dynamic power distribution ensures vehicles are charged on demand and ready for service.
Microchip Increases Manufacturing Capacity of Its Hydrogen Masers for Precise Timing and Synchronization with New Facility in Alabama
Microchip Technology has opened a 15,000‑sq‑ft facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to scale production of its MHM‑2020 Active Hydrogen Maser. The new plant will also manufacture the AOG‑110 output generator and the 1000C‑OCXO crystal oscillator, reducing lead times for customers. Hydrogen...
interos.ai Launches iQ to Elevate Supply Chain Risks to the C-Level
Interos.ai unveiled iQ, a second‑generation AI‑driven platform that merges ERP identifiers with its Resilience knowledge graph to deliver predictive supply‑chain risk analytics. The solution quantifies financial exposure, maps tariff impacts, and suggests alternative suppliers, targeting Fortune 1000 enterprises and government agencies....
UPS’ Amazon Volume Cuts Are Nearly Done. What’s Next?
UPS accelerated its plan to halve Amazon parcel volume, cutting 500,000 packages per day in Q1 and reducing Amazon’s share of revenue to 8.8% from 10.6% a year earlier. The carrier also closed 23 facilities, eliminated roughly 25,000 jobs and...
Supply Chain Constraints, Not Demand, Will Define the Solar Decade
Global solar installations are set to near 600 GW by 2025, marking another record year, but the sector’s next hurdle is not demand or technology—it is the ability to scale industrial capacity and secure a resilient supply chain. The International Energy...
UPS International Revenue up, While Domestic Drops
United Parcel Service reported first‑quarter 2026 international package revenue up 3.8% to $4.4 bn, yet operating profit fell 14.4% to $547 m as expenses rose. Domestic revenue slipped 2.3% to $14 bn and profit plunged 47.4% to $515 m, with only a modest 1%...
Pre-Markets Down on Oil Prices, Q1 Earnings Results
Pre‑market trading on Tuesday shows a mixed picture: the Dow nudges higher while the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and Russell 2000 slip as oil prices climb amid the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran‑related shipping disruption fuels a 36% earnings...
Iran War Hobbles Global Circuit Board Supply Chain
The ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict has disrupted the flow of raw materials and finished printed circuit boards (PCBs) that originate from or transit through Iran, forcing manufacturers to seek alternative sources. Industry surveys indicate a 12‑15% reduction in PCB availability and...
Quick Commerce War Intensifies as Jio, Amazon, Flipkart Scale up to Challenge Incumbents
India’s quick‑commerce sector is entering a scale‑up phase as Reliance Retail’s JioMart logs 2 million daily orders in Q4 FY26, a 300% year‑on‑year surge, and leans on a 3,100‑plus store network instead of capital‑heavy dark stores. Amazon Now and Flipkart are racing...
TFI’s Bedard Optimistic About U.S. LTL, but some of Its Issues Persist
CEO Alain Bedard said TFI International remains optimistic about its U.S. less‑than‑truckload (LTL) business, but acknowledged lingering operational flaws inherited from the 2021 UPS Freight acquisition. The combined North‑American LTL operating ratio fell to 95.3% in Q1, though the company can...
France at Risk of Fuel Shortages, Energy Chief Says
France’s energy minister warned that the country faces imminent fuel shortages as refinery outages, maintenance schedules, and dwindling strategic reserves converge. National gasoline inventories have slipped below the 30‑day safety threshold, prompting officials to consider activating emergency stockpiles. The government...
The United Arab Emirates Is Quitting OPEC Oil Cartel After Nearly 60 Years
The United Arab Emirates announced it will leave OPEC on May 1, ending almost 60 years of membership. The exit is presented as part of a long‑term strategic vision that lets the emirate tap its large spare‑capacity and raise output once export...
Finland: Siemens Delivers 80th Vectron Electric Locomotive to VR
Siemens Mobility has delivered the 80th Vectron electric locomotive to Finland’s VR, fulfilling a contract signed in 2014. The order, the largest single Vectron deal and VR’s biggest rolling‑stock investment, was completed on schedule. Each locomotive is customized for extreme...
High Fuel Prices Making Outlook for Logistics Demand Uncertain
Industry analysts warn that sustained high oil prices—projected to end 2026 over 30% above FY2025 levels—are clouding the demand outlook for freight forwarding and logistics services. Shippers are pushing back against fuel surcharges, while rising inflation and weaker consumer purchasing...
Canada’s Push to Rebuild Ties with China Hits a Snag: A Lack of Direct Flights
Canada announced it will increase direct passenger flights to China and allow up to 20 weekly cargo services, aiming to revive tourism after a surge in Chinese bookings following visa‑free entry. Travel demand from China to Canada has more than...
Brands Briefing: How Higher Oil Prices Are Shaking up the Footwear Industry
Higher oil prices, spurred by the U.S.-Iran conflict, are rippling through the footwear sector. Shipping and logistics costs are climbing, while petroleum‑derived inputs such as midsoles, padding and stitching become more expensive. At the same time, rising fuel prices are...
Oil and Gas Execs Don’t Expect Hormuz Traffic to Normalize Until August
American oil and gas executives surveyed by the Dallas Fed expect Strait of Hormuz traffic to remain disrupted until at least August, with 79% forecasting no normalization before then. Only 39% anticipate a return to normal by August, while 26%...
Concordia Damen Books Order for Paraguay-Paraná Pusher
Concordia Damen has signed a newbuilding contract with an undisclosed Paraguayan client for a 41‑meter shallow‑draft river pusher, the CDS 4115, slated for delivery in 2027. The vessel will operate on the Paraguay‑Paraná River system, pushing up to 12 barges in...
EQT Real Estate Raises €3.1bn for Latest European Logistics Fund
EQT Real Estate announced the closing of a €3.1 billion ($3.35 billion) European logistics fund, the firm’s latest vehicle targeting high‑growth warehouse assets across the continent. The capital was sourced from a broad base of global institutional investors, underscoring strong demand for...
Visibility Isn’t Decision-Making in Supply Chain AI
Supply chain AI has succeeded at delivering real‑time visibility, but most implementations stop at alerting rather than deciding. Without integrated decision logic and clear execution authority, AI recommendations remain advisory and fail to drive action. The article argues that the...
Union Pacific Settles Dispute with Rail Supplier, Reaches 7-Year Agreement
Union Pacific Railroad settled a legal dispute with Rocky Mountain Steel Mills by signing a new seven‑year contract to source domestic steel rails. The agreement keeps the Pueblo, Colorado mill as a key supplier and coincides with a $1 billion investment...
Port of Coos Bay Awarded $11MM to Advance PCIP Project
The Port of Coos Bay received an $11 million federal award to advance the Port Community Intermodal Project (PCIP), a ship‑to‑rail container terminal on the North Spit. The funding builds on prior INFRA and CRISI grants and Oregon’s $100 million state commitment,...
‘Unprecedented Crisis’: Quebec Furniture Maker Shuts Down Operations
South Shore Furniture, a Quebec family‑owned maker founded in 1940, announced the shutdown of its Sainte‑Croix plant and two other facilities, eliminating 126 jobs after sales plunged 77 percent. The company blames U.S. tariffs and a flood of cheap Asian...
Iran Conflict Forces Government to Reopen CO2 Plant to Support Nuclear Power Security
The UK government has temporarily restarted the Ensus bio‑ethanol plant in Wilton to produce carbon dioxide after the Iran conflict disrupted European fertilizer‑derived CO₂ imports. CO₂ is a critical coolant for the country’s advanced gas‑cooled reactors at Hartlepool, Heysham 1, Heysham 2...
US Forwarders Express Dismay at Chicago Flight Cuts
U.S. freight forwarders have slammed the FAA’s decision to cap daily flights at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at 2,708 for the summer, a reduction from the airlines’ planned 3,080. The limit, intended to curb congestion amid extensive runway construction, threatens to...
6K Energy and CRG Defense Announce Collaboration Toward Building a U.S. Based Battery Supply Chain for Mission Critical Defense Systems
6K Energy and CRG Defense have signed a seven‑year agreement to source high‑performance NMC811 cathode active material for U.S.‑made battery cells and packs. The deal starts with supply from 6K’s North Andover plant and expands to the PlusCAM facility in Jackson,...
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Rollon will use Advanced Factories 2026 in Barcelona to demonstrate how its engineered linear motion systems tackle the toughest automation challenges. The company highlights recent real‑world projects in heavy robotic handling, high‑speed palletising and battery‑cell production, emphasizing load capacity, speed and...
Emerson and Aramco Deploy AI Solution Aimed at Higher Refinery Yield Volume and Efficiencies
Emerson has deployed its AI‑driven Aspen Hybrid Models™ across Aramco’s global refinery network, creating one of the world’s largest multi‑site, multi‑period optimization frameworks. The solution delivers up to 98.5% accuracy in yield and quality predictions for key units such as...
Bila Solar Achieves ISO Certification at Indianapolis Panel Factory
Bila Solar, an Indianapolis‑based solar panel assembler, has secured ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management system. The company completed a two‑stage audit by American Certification Group, demonstrating documented procedures, internal audits, and effective day‑to‑day controls. Executives highlighted the accelerated timeline...
Equipment Demand Hits Record High Despite Rising Uncertainty
Equipment leasing activity reached a record high in the first quarter, with total new business volume climbing to $10.8 billion in March, an 18.6% increase year‑to‑date. While overall demand remains robust across construction, healthcare and manufacturing, small‑ticket deals slipped 17.7% from...
Pentagon's Former Principal Director for Autonomy to Keynote Advanced Manufacturing User Expo in the Mahoning Valley
Former Pentagon Principal Director for Autonomy Dr. Jaret C. Riddick will deliver the keynote at the second annual Advanced Manufacturing User Expo (AMUX) on May 20, 2026 in Niles, Ohio. Riddick brings nearly two decades of defense AI and robotics experience, having...
American Rare Earths Accelerates Wyoming Pilot Plant Project
American Rare Earths, through its U.S. arm Wyoming Rare, has accelerated the pilot‑plant phase of its Halleck Creek rare‑earth project in Wyoming. The first two processing stages—milling, sizing and mineral separation—will be performed locally with Western Research Institute and DISA...
Cislunar Space: The Next Strait of Hormuz Situation?
The U.S. Space Force is launching a dedicated acquisition office to evaluate the cislunar region—space between Earth and the Moon—for warfighting and national‑security purposes. This move follows growing expert warnings that cislunar space could become a strategic chokepoint akin to...
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Opens State-of-the-Art European Service Center
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has opened a 16,000 sqm European Service Center in Gärtringen, Germany, featuring a highly automated logistics hub with 32 robots handling 60,000 containers. The facility adds a Material Innovation Center and a recycling development area to support sustainable...
South32 and Eskom in Talks over Hillside Smelter Power Supply Following Closure of Mozal
South32 and Eskom have launched a joint working group to negotiate a long‑term electricity supply for the Hillside aluminium smelter after the Mozal plant in Mozambique was placed on care and maintenance on March 15. The Mozal shutdown eliminated roughly...
Global Airfreight Rates Extend Gains Amid Fuel Constraints
Global airfreight rates climbed 4.1% week‑on‑week, pushing the TAC Index 32.7% higher year‑on‑year and keeping prices above the peaks of the last two high‑season cycles. The rise is driven by persistent jet‑fuel shortages and elevated fuel costs, which limit capacity...
China Orders Maritime Security Research as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Exposes Trade Risks
China’s State‑owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (Sasac) unveiled a 30‑project research agenda, with four studies dedicated to energy security and maritime chokepoints after the Iran‑Israel war effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of global oil...
Facing US and Chinese Pressure, the EU Must Forge Its Own Strategy
The EU faces a widening trade deficit with China—about €360 billion (≈$425 billion) in 2023—while U.S. tariffs have forced Europe into a reactive, rather than coordinated, stance. This drift has left the bloc economically tethered to Beijing yet pressured to align with...
Closing the Connectivity Gap in Global Freight
Globalstar is targeting the persistent connectivity gap in freight logistics by offering satellite‑based IoT solutions for rail cars and intermodal containers. Its solar‑powered Integrity 150 tracker uses edge processing and BLE sensors to send only critical events, reducing bandwidth costs while...
Iran Standoff Keeps Crude Near US$100 and Puts Strait Risk in Focus
Oil prices surged over 2.5% as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed, keeping crude near the $100 per barrel threshold. Iran offered to reopen the waterway if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade, but President Trump rejected the proposal...
“Renegotiating with Supermarkets Will Become Inevitable” Warns the Belgian Food Industry
Belgian food manufacturers reported a 2.5% revenue increase to roughly $93 bn last year, driven by higher volumes despite falling prices. However, domestic demand is flat and cross‑border shopping, now worth about $772 m, is shifting toward Germany and Luxembourg as shoppers...
Taihan to Make and Install Submarine Cables for South Korean Solar Power Plants
South Korean cable maker Taihan Cable & Solution has won a contract to produce, transport and install extra‑high‑voltage submarine cables for a solar power project in Sinan County. The 154 kV cables will connect the Bigeum on‑shore solar plant and the...
Why More Companies Are Hitting Pause on Global Expansion
A new Avalara report shows 83% of firms find cross‑border operations more complex, and 39% have delayed market entry due to regulatory uncertainty. Compliance now eats about 10% of cross‑border revenue, with tariffs cited by 52% as the biggest operational...
Russia’s Urals No Longer Cheap: India’s Refiners Face a Margin Squeeze
Indian public‑sector refineries now source 47‑50% of their crude from Russian Urals after Middle‑East deliveries fell 61% in March 2026. The disappearance of deep Urals discounts – now a $4‑5 per barrel premium to Brent – combined with higher freight...
Ganga Expressway to Drive Over US $4 Billion Industrial Growth in UP
The Uttar Pradesh government will launch the 594‑km Ganga Expressway on April 29 as an expressway‑cum‑industrial corridor. Designed as an Integrated Manufacturing and Logistics Cluster, it links 12 districts and targets nearly Rs 47,000 crore (about $4.96 billion) across 987 proposals in textiles, logistics,...
Goods Moved From SEZs to Domestic Markets Treated as Imports; Duty Drawback Applicable on Re-Exports
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) issued a clarification that goods moved from Special Economic Zone (SEZ) units into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) after duty payment will be treated as imports if they are later re‑exported....
INTERVIEW: Kazakhstan Bets on Reliability, Digitisation to Capture Shifting Global Supply Chains
Kazakhstan is leveraging reliability and digitalisation to turn its land‑locked position into a logistics hub, centring on the Middle Corridor that links Asia and Europe. Recent infrastructure upgrades—including a second Dostyk‑Moyntau railway line that quintupled capacity and expanded Caspian ports—have...
Leapmotor and Stellantis Considering Co-Developing New Platforms
Stellantis and Chinese EV maker Leapmotor are discussing deeper collaboration that may include co‑developing shared vehicle platforms. Stellantis currently owns about 20% of Leapmotor and a 51% stake in its international distribution arm, giving it access to Leapmotor’s dealer network...
Hormuz Deadlock Spurs Landbridge Developments
The Hormuz blockade is prompting Saudi Arabia and Egypt to build a landbridge logistics corridor that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, linking Gulf ports to the Mediterranean via rail and sea. The route will run across Saudi to Red Sea...
400 Million Crates, 2.5 Billion Uses: Inside IFCO's Global RPC Network
At Fruit Logistica 2026, IFCO Systems unveiled its 2030 roadmap, emphasizing a global reusable packaging network that now runs 400 million crates and logs 2.5 billion uses each year. The German‑based firm highlighted its folding‑crate innovation, ESG pillars, and a target to...