‘Rail Won’t Replace Ocean Freight’ Amid Middle East Chaos
The recent Israel‑U.S. strike on Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting hundreds of vessels and unsettling the Europe‑Asia supply chain. Experts say rail, particularly the China‑Europe “Middle Corridor,” can serve as a credible backup but lacks the scale to replace ocean freight. Capacity constraints, border procedures and limited infrastructure mean any shift to rail will be gradual, while sea diversions around the Cape of Good Hope add 10‑15 days. If the disruption endures, shippers may permanently integrate these “Plan B” routes into their logistics strategies.
LATAM Partners to Reduce Salmon Shipment Emissions
LATAM Cargo announced a partnership with forwarder Andes Integración Logística and salmon exporter AquaChile to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on a three‑tonne salmon shipment from Chile to the United States. The initiative allocated more than 350 litres of SAF, delivering...
2026 FleetOwner 500: For-Hire Fleets with the Most Trailers
J.B. Hunt Transport has claimed the top spot on FleetOwner’s 2026 For‑Hire list, overtaking FedEx as the largest U.S. carrier by trailer count. The ranking reshuffles most of the top ten, with ContainerPort Group moving to fourth, R+L Carriers rising to...
Supply Chain 101: What’s Really Happening Between Amazon and USPS?
Amazon announced it will keep its partnership with the U.S. Postal Service but is accelerating the shift of parcels to its own delivery network. ShipMatrix data shows Amazon now handles roughly the same volume as USPS, and the retailer could...
AI Is Making Supply Chain Decisions, But It’s Flying Blind
AI is proliferating across supply‑chain functions, but many firms misuse it by treating algorithms as autonomous decision‑makers rather than advisory tools. Executives often deploy AI on legacy, checkpoint‑based data that is stale and incomplete, leading to confident yet inaccurate recommendations....
Shipsy Launches AgentFleet, an AI Workforce for Logistics Operations
Shipsy has unveiled AgentFleet, an AI‑driven workforce that assigns virtual agents to core logistics roles such as customer experience, driver support, finance and dispute resolution. The agents monitor signals, make rule‑based decisions and execute tasks across TMS, ERP and third‑party...
Should the Gulf Arab States Join the War Against Iran?
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have sophisticated air forces capable of striking Iranian missile and drone sites, but they have so far limited their involvement to defensive measures. Their fleets include modern F-15s, Eurofighter Typhoons and advanced F-16...
GoVolta Launches First Low-Cost Train From Amsterdam to Berlin
GoVolta, a Dutch low‑cost rail startup, launched its first international service on 19 March, linking Amsterdam Centraal to Berlin Spandau with three weekly trips. Fares start at €10 one‑way and average €30, directly targeting budget airlines. The operator uses 13 refurbished...
ECJ Opens Door to Several Hundred Million Euro TAC Refunds in Germany
The European Court of Justice has struck down Germany’s cap on track access charges (TAC) for local passenger services, a rule that forced rail freight operators to pay inflated fees since 2016. The decision ends the discriminatory charge structure and...
The Future 5 2025-2026 – Introducing Flowie
Flowie has been selected for Spend Matters’ Future 5 list, a recognition by The Hackett Group of emerging procurement innovators. The platform positions itself as an AI‑native finance and procurement orchestration layer that plugs into existing ERPs such as SAP, Sage...
Future 5 Procuretech Providers 2025-2026: Why We Chose Flowie
Spend Matters unveiled its 2025‑2026 “Future 5” procuretech list, naming Flowie among five startups poised to reshape the market. Flowie offers an AI‑driven, no‑code orchestration platform that links ERP, CRM, treasury and compliance systems in real time. The vendor meets the...
DeSL, TSG Partner to Enhance Digital Supply Chain for Textiles
DeSL has entered a strategic agreement with Textile Solutions Group (TSG) to broaden its AI‑driven product lifecycle management (PLM) platform across the global textile and apparel market. The partnership will integrate DeSL’s SaaS PLM suite with TSG’s manufacturing and execution...
Alstom Modernises ScotRail’s Class 222 Fleet
Alstom and ScotRail have sealed a ten‑year, £250 million Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement covering 22 five‑car Class 222 trains. The deal includes an £80 million refurbishment programme that upgrades interiors, exteriors and onboard technology. Alstom will provide maintenance, spare‑parts logistics and...
Poland Approves PKP Cargo’s Restructuring Plan
Poland's Judge‑Commissioner has approved PKP Cargo's restructuring plan, clearing the way for the rail operator to settle with creditors and shed the "in restructuring" suffix. The plan, submitted in June 2025, focuses on boosting liquidity, reducing debt, and improving operational...
Wagon Automotive Implements Inline Metrology Cell for Complex Chassis Components
Wagon Automotive has installed an automated inline metrology cell that combines a KUKA robot, Leica Absolute Scanner AS1 with an AT960 laser tracker, a motorized turntable, and Eleven Dynamics’ EDAS software. The system replaces manual measurement and legacy CMMs, delivering high‑precision,...
High-Speed CMOS X-Ray Detection for AI Chip Inspection Launched
Rayence has launched the Flash Series, a high‑speed CMOS X‑ray detector tailored for semiconductor automated X‑ray inspection (AXI) and 3D CT systems. The platform delivers 49.5 µm pixel resolution at up to 70 frames per second, while withstanding X‑ray doses of 20,000 Gy....
BioCina Launches Manufacturing Program for Patrys’ Injectable Delirium Therapy
BioCina has launched a comprehensive Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) program for Patrys Ltd’s injectable formulation RLS-2201, a proprietary quetiapine product aimed at treating acute delirium in intensive‑care patients. The manufacturing effort is based in BioCina’s sterile facility in Perth...
TRIMEDX-AIQ Adds Supply Chain Automation, Advanced Predictive Failure Intelligence
TRIMEDX unveiled an upgraded AI‑native platform, TRIMEDX‑AIQ, that adds automated parts ordering, purchase‑order automation, and predictive failure forecasting to its clinical supply chain suite. Leveraging a dataset of over 6.1 million device records spanning 25 years, the system anticipates equipment degradation and...
Inventory Accuracy in Manufacturing
Manufacturers relying on handwritten counts and spreadsheets face frequent stockouts and excess inventory, disrupting production schedules and cash flow. The article argues that manual inventory is a self‑inflicted liability that hampers scaling and compliance. Switching to an ERP‑driven, real‑time inventory...
Fertiliser Shortages Could Hit Australia in Late May, June: Collins
Minister Julie Collins warned that fertiliser shortages could hit Australian growers by late May or June if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. While current stocks cover the early cropping season, 95% of Australia’s urea—65% shipped through the Persian Gulf...
How Finnish Supermarkets Are Central to the Country's Defence
Finnish supermarket chains S Group and Kesko are integral to the nation’s comprehensive security strategy, maintaining detailed contingency plans and strategic food reserves. They cooperate with the National Emergency Supply Organisation and participate in government‑led preparedness committees and training exercises. The...
3.1M SF Logistics Park Slated For Oakley In East Bay
Oakley’s city council approved the Bridgehead Industrial Project, a 3.2 million‑square‑foot logistics campus on 164 acres of eastern Contra Costa County. The development will consist of ten buildings, with construction slated to take six to ten years, and will become the largest...
Tehran Vows to Strike Gulf Oil, Gas Facilities
Iran pledged to strike oil and gas facilities across the Persian Gulf after a missile attack damaged its South Pars gas field, a joint Iran‑Qatar reserve. Tehran named Saudi, UAE and Qatari sites as legitimate targets, including the Samref refinery...
Dematic Redefines Warehouse Intelligence with Launch of Command Center
Dematic announced Command Center, a vendor‑agnostic, cloud‑based intelligence platform that unifies real‑time monitoring, AI‑driven decision support, and analytics for warehouse operations. Unveiled at LogiMAT 2026 and showcased at MODEX 2026, it aggregates data from automation, software, and manual processes into a single...
MAXOLUTION® Introduces a Standardized Mobile Robotic Platform with Contactless Charging
MAXOLUTION, an SEW‑EURODRIVE company, launched the Mobile Robot Platform 1600 (MR P1600), a standardized, modular robot designed for pallet transport in factories and warehouses. The platform offers up to 1 600 kg payload, 1.6 m/s speed, and optional contactless inductive charging via MOVITRANS solutions....
Road Projects at Risk as Bitumen Supplies Tighten
Australia’s bitumen stocks are dwindling as Middle‑East conflicts disrupt supplies from Asian refineries, prompting the Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AFPA) to warn of possible depletion within weeks. Exporters have invoked force‑majeure clauses, cancelling contracts and driving price forecasts above a...
7 Best Employee Training Platforms for Manufacturing Teams in 2026
Manufacturers face a talent shortage, with 49,000 UK factory jobs vacant in April 2025, prompting a need for rapid upskilling. A new ranking of seven employee training platforms evaluates them on compliance automation, mobile/offline access, multilingual capability, IoT integration, and...
UNFI Will Close Racine, Wis., Plant, Laying Off 443 Workers
United Natural Foods (UNFI) announced the closure of its 425,000‑square‑foot Racine, Wisconsin distribution center, eliminating 443 positions. Operations will shift to a newer facility in Joliet, Illinois, where the company is installing modern technology to boost capacity. The move coincides...
Trump Admin Waives Jones Act for 60 Days
The White House has temporarily waived the Jones Act for 60 days, easing U.S. vessel restrictions amid heightened geopolitical tension. Simultaneously, the war in Iran and a Greek tanker attack in the Black Sea have driven up container rates and...
New at Mouser: Digi Connect Sensor XRT-M for IoT, Industrial, Sensor, and Gateway Applications
Mouser Electronics has begun shipping Digi International’s new Digi Connect Sensor XRT‑M, a rugged LTE‑M cellular gateway designed for zero‑infrastructure IoT monitoring. The battery‑or‑solar powered device offers edge processing, cloud connectivity via Digi Axess, and IP68 protection for harsh environments. It...
OOCL Sunflower Reaches Long Beach After Losing Containers in Pacific Storm
The ultra‑large container ship OOCL Sunflower arrived at the Port of Long Beach after a North Pacific storm caused it to lose 32 containers overboard and damage 57 more on deck. The incident, which occurred on March 3 south of the...
UNFI Ramps up AI, Digital Push Across Supply Chain
United Natural Foods (UNFI) is accelerating its AI and digital transformation by expanding the RELEX supply‑chain planning platform across its distribution network, with a dozen centers slated to go live next week and a full rollout expected by the end...
Baltic Towers to Supply Baltica 2 Towers
Baltic Towers has signed a supply agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy to provide the largest batch of offshore wind turbine towers for the Baltica 2 project. The 2027‑commissioned farm, co‑developed by Grupa PGE and Ørsted, will deliver power to roughly 2.5 million customers...
Lufthansa Cargo Integrates Add-On Services Into Booking Process
German carrier Lufthansa Cargo has embedded optional add‑on services directly into its online booking flow, allowing shippers to select and price extras with a few clicks. The initial rollout offers Sustainable Choice, Personal Supervision and smartULD, with toDoor delivery and...
AMD Keeping Samsung Close Amid Memory Shortage
AMD has entered a strategic agreement with Samsung to secure next‑generation HBM4 memory amid a broader industry shortage. The partnership aims to lock in supply for AMD's upcoming AI‑focused GPUs, addressing concerns raised after the company warned of potential shortages...
ENCY Partners with Factory of the Future to Expand Connected Manufacturing
ENCY Software has become a partner in the Dutch Factory of the Future initiative, joining 21 other technology firms to showcase a connected manufacturing ecosystem. The collaboration emphasizes linking engineering data, CAM post‑processing, and CNC automation into a continuous digital...
MANUFACTURING & AUTOMATION eXCHANGE (MAX) DEBUTS NEXT WEEK IN NASHVILLE, SPOTLIGHTING THE FUTURE OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN THE SOUTHEAST
The Manufacturing & Automation eXchange (MAX) launches March 24‑26 in Nashville, bringing together the full manufacturing ecosystem to spotlight AI, robotics, and digital transformation in the fast‑growing Southeast. Produced by BNP Media, the event features six pre‑conference workshops, a two‑day...
FedEx to Shutter 9 New York Parcel Centers
FedEx announced the closure of nine parcel centers in New York and one in Pennsylvania as the final phase of its Network 2.0 integration. The program consolidates legacy express and ground operations into a single surface network, aiming to cut excess...
HarborLab, Danaos Collaborate on Fully Integrated Port Cost Management Solution
HarborLab has partnered with Danaos Management Consultants to launch the first fully automated port cost management solution, linking HarborLab’s platform directly with Danaos’ Port Expenses, Voyage Estimation and Protocol modules. The integration replaces manual XML file exchanges with real‑time bi‑directional...
Threat Actors Target the Entire Retail Supply Chain
Black Kite’s 2026 report warns that threat actors now view wholesalers and retailers as a single, highly interconnected organization, exposing the entire retail supply chain to systemic cyber risk. Over 70% of major retailers, nearly 60% of wholesalers, and more...
Congo Export Curbs to Keep Cobalt Scarce Till 2030
The Democratic Republic of Congo, responsible for over 70% of global cobalt, imposed an export ban in February 2025 and later introduced strict quotas, slashing refined output by roughly 20%. The curbs created an 82,000‑ton deficit in 2025 and drove...
Mars Canada Invests $180M in Ontario Manufacturing
Mars Canada completed a $180 million multi‑year investment across its Ontario manufacturing network, spanning 2022‑2026. The funding upgrades packaging lines and expands capacity at four sites—Bolton, Newmarket, Guelph—boosting production for snacking, pet nutrition and food brands. Sustainability measures cut water, electricity...
IMO Secretary-General Urges De-Escalation, Seafarer Protection
IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Domínguez condemned recent attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which have killed at least seven seafarers and injured many more. He warned that roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, facing...
Why Warehouse Consultations Matter for Efficient Operations
Warehouse consultations are emerging as a strategic tool for companies seeking to future‑proof their distribution centers. By conducting thorough facility walkthroughs, workflow analyses, and data‑driven assessments, consultants pinpoint inefficiencies and recommend scalable storage and automation solutions. The process not only...
Lloyd's Register, OneOcean Report Warns Shipping Must Master Data to Remain Competitive
Lloyd’s Register and OneOcean released a report warning that the maritime sector’s surge in operational data is hampered by fragmentation and low standardisation, jeopardising compliance and commercial advantage. Their Digital Maturity Index shows data standardisation at 2.45 / 4 while overall digital...
J.B. Hunt Says Fuel Spike Not yet Driving Intermodal Conversion
J.B. Hunt’s intermodal division reported strong margin improvement despite a 30% surge in diesel prices since the Iran conflict, yet shippers have not begun shifting freight from truckload to rail. Intermodal still delivers roughly 22.8% cost savings versus truckload, well...
Why Delivery Reliability Now Matters More Than Speed
Retailers have spent a decade chasing Amazon‑style speed, but a Locus survey shows only 9% of shoppers believe promises are consistently met. Missed windows and silent delays erode trust, with 92% of customers abandoning a brand after just a few...
Piraeus Declines 6% for Second Year, Cosco Ports Results Show
Cosco‑controlled Piraeus port reported a 6% drop in 2025 throughput, handling 3.97 million TEU, marking the second consecutive year of decline. Analysts attribute the loss to Red Sea disruptions that rerouted cargo to Spain and northern Europe rather than pure demand...
Interpack 26: COPA-DATA Presents Automation Software for Transformation
COPA‑DATA will showcase its zenon automation platform at interpack 26 in Düsseldorf from May 7‑13, 2026, highlighting smart manufacturing solutions for the packaging sector. The no‑code/low‑code system supports standards such as MTP, PackML and OMAC, enabling flexible, data‑driven production. Live...
Supply Chain Scenarios to Consider Due to War in Iran
The war in Iran has triggered a cascade of interlocking supply‑chain shocks, from maritime rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope to soaring war‑risk insurance premiums and heightened cyber‑attack risk. BSI Consulting outlines two recovery paths: a swift cease‑fire that...
