Geosky Airlines Begins China-Denmark Freighter Flights
Geosky Airlines, a Georgian cargo carrier, has launched regular freighter services linking Xi’an, China, with Copenhagen, Denmark, via a stop in Tbilisi, Georgia. The route is operated with Boeing 767‑300 passenger‑to‑freighter aircraft and expands Geosky’s network that already reaches 66 countries. The airline highlighted Copenhagen’s role as a Scandinavian logistics hub and emphasized the transit‑hub model that reinforces Georgia’s position in Eurasian cargo flows. Geosky also became the first Georgian airline to adopt evidence‑based training for its crews.
Transparency Data: CMA: Spending over £500, March 2026
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a transparency dataset covering electronic purchasing card (ePCS) transactions exceeding £500 in March 2026. The CSV file, only 166 bytes, lists each qualifying spend, enabling public scrutiny of government procurement. At current exchange rates,...
Bundeswehr Launches Loitering Munition Spending Spree with $2.16 Billion Unassigned
Germany’s Bundeswehr has opened a €2.4 billion (≈US$2.75 billion) framework for loitering‑munition systems, kicking off with a €300 million (US$344 million) contract to Rheinmetall for its FV‑014 autonomous reconnaissance‑strike drone. The deal, delayed for months, schedules qualification in Q2 2026 and initial deliveries in the...
Warehouse Software Delays Cost Clicks R175m
Clicks disclosed that delays in rolling out a new warehouse management system at its Cape Town distribution centre shaved roughly R175 million ($9.2 million) – about 0.9% – off retail turnover during the festive period. The shortfall was amplified by aggressive discounting...
China’s Energy Storage Battery Exports Hit 27.3GWh in Q1 2026
China’s energy‑storage battery exports reached 27.3 GWh in Q1 2026, representing 32.4% of total battery shipments and a 15% year‑on‑year increase. Combined power and storage battery exports climbed to 84.1 GWh, up 36.7% YoY, with March alone posting a 96.9% month‑on‑month jump to...
Poland Launches New Tender for a Section of the Warsaw–Łódź High-Speed Rail Line
Poland’s state‑run Port Polska has issued a new tender for the 14.3‑kilometre stretch of the Warsaw–Łódź high‑speed rail line linking the new central airport hub to the Bolimów hub. The competitive‑dialogue process, with expressions of interest due by June 12, will...
Suzuki: India Production to Offset Decline in Japan, Hungary
Automotive World projects Suzuki will build about 3.5 million vehicles in 2026, a 2‑3 % increase from 2025. Growth will be driven primarily by expanded output in India and Indonesia, while output in Japan and Hungary is expected to fall further. Over...
SDVs Pose Challenges to Automotive Supply Chains, Moody’s Says
Moody’s warns that software‑defined vehicles (SDVs) will expose automotive supply chains to heightened cost pressures and security risks. As cars become updatable software platforms, traditional hardware‑centric quality controls no longer apply, creating uncertainty over code provenance and cyber‑vulnerability. The surge...
Under Armour Joins US Cotton Trust Protocol for Sustainable Sourcing
Under Armour announced it will pilot cotton sourced through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, starting with graphic tees in its Freedom collection this fall. The voluntary program supplies field‑level data on water use, greenhouse‑gas emissions, soil health and land use,...
FS Logistix Launches New Link to Provide Relief Amid Fuel Crisis
FS Logistix, the Italian state‑owned rail freight operator, has launched a new service called Rail4Truck linking Marcianise near Naples with Bologna. The twice‑weekly round‑trip aims to provide a diesel‑free logistics alternative as Italy’s diesel prices jumped 16.85% between February and...
Ranked: Which Countries Have Had the Worst Fuel Price Spikes Since the Iran War?
Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel after the Strait of Hormuz blockage, triggering the sharpest fuel‑price spikes in Europe since the Iran conflict began. Eurostat data show a 13.5% rise across the EU between February and March 2026, with...
Forest Industry Shifts Toward AI and Sustainability, Pulp & Beyond Speakers Say
The Pulp & Beyond conference in Helsinki highlighted a rapid shift in the forest sector toward an integrated strategy that blends resilience, artificial intelligence and sustainability. AI is now deemed essential for pulp and paper operations, delivering measurable gains in...
Croatia Signs €280 Mln Contract with Spanish Company for Zagreb – Rijeka Railway Upgrade
Croatia’s rail infrastructure manager HŽ Infrastruktura signed a €280 million (≈$300 million) contract with Spanish contractor COMSA to upgrade the 44‑kilometre Zagreb‑Rijeka line between Hrvatski Leskovac and Karlovac. The project will add a second track, fully electrify the route and replace signalling...
Spain’s Mediterranean Corridor: EUR 3 Billion in 2024–2026
Spain’s Mediterranean Corridor has secured roughly $3.1 billion in new investment between January 2024 and March 2026, accelerating construction, adaptation and modernization of rail sections, stations and port accesses. The network now has 870 km under construction, raising the overall work share from 45%...
What Hormuz Exposed About Our Semiconductor Supply Chain
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early March has halted Qatar’s Ras Laffan helium plant, sending spot helium prices soaring and exposing a critical dependency in the semiconductor supply chain. South Korea and Taiwan source roughly two‑thirds of their...
£36bn Abandoned at Checkout as Mystery Shop Exposes Delivery Failures
A joint study by Retail Economics and GFS found that roughly £36bn (about $45bn) of non‑food online sales were abandoned at checkout in 2025 due to delivery‑related issues. High‑value shoppers—those who spend the most online—left 29% of their carts, compared...
Splash Wrap: Why the Hormuz Conflict Is a World War
The Hormuz shipping crisis has sent freight slot prices soaring to $385,000, with some bids exceeding $1 million, while disrupting global fertilizer and sulphur supplies. The International Maritime Organization’s secretary‑general called for immediate de‑escalation to safeguard freedom of navigation. Panama Canal...
Russia Offers the CKU Railway Help and a Snarky Remark
China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are advancing the CKU railway, a cross‑border link that will join China’s standard‑gauge network with Central Asian routes. Russia’s deputy transport minister Dmitriy Zverev visited Bishkek and pledged Russian technology, staff training and rolling‑stock assistance. He...
Hyundai Auto Profits Strained by yet Another Economic Crisis
Hyundai Motor Company reported a 30.8% year‑on‑year decline in Q1 2026 operating profit, falling to KRW 2.5 trillion (≈$1.9 billion). The slump is linked to U.S. import tariffs and the ongoing war in the Middle East, which threaten export corridors to Europe, Africa and...
Kollmorgen Launches Layout Analysis Tool to Improve Mobile Robot Performance
Kollmorgen unveiled the NDC Layout Assistant, a software tool that evaluates and optimizes routes for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in factories and warehouses. By breaking down routes into smaller sections, the assistant highlights travel‑time, speed...
‘Certain Reluctance’ of Shippers to Adopt Intermodal Transport
Portmann, together with DB Cargo France, launched a daily intermodal shuttle linking Metz and the Valenton rail hub, primarily serving IKEA. The service can move up to 44 containers per day but currently transports only 26‑30, leaving excess capacity on...
China Wafer Declines Narrow as Demand-Side Regulation Lifts Market Sentiment
China's photovoltaic wafer prices saw their steepest weekly declines narrow, with n-type M10 and G12 wafers falling only 0.71% and 0.59% respectively. Despite the modest pull‑back, trading volumes remain weak as solar‑cell manufacturers operate at reduced capacity, dampening downstream demand....
Chile Braces for Bad Acid Trip
Chile’s mining sector is confronting a looming shortage and price surge for sulphuric acid, a critical reagent for copper processing. The disruption stems from the Iran‑Israel conflict and the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which have choked global...
Jamaica Moves to Stabilise Cement Supply After Weather Disruption
Jamaica’s Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) has rolled out emergency measures to steady cement supplies after heavy rains halted production at Caribbean Cement Co. An incoming vessel originally bound for the Bahamas will be redirected to Jamaica on...
A New Contract for TER Rail Services in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
France’s Nouvelle‑Aquitaine region awarded SNCF Voyageurs a 10‑year contract to operate TER services in Poitou‑Charentes, covering six lines that serve about 14,000 passengers daily. The €965 million (~$1.05 billion) deal, effective December 2027, creates a dedicated subsidiary, SNCF Voyageurs Terre Atlantique, and adds 22 extra weekday trains...
Geneva Dry Dialogues: Devbulk
Hakki Deval, CEO of Istanbul‑based Devbulk, says the dry‑bulk market remains cautiously optimistic, especially for handysize and supramax vessels where supply favors owners. He warns that new‑build orders are best delayed until yard prices soften and fuel regulations clarify, preferring...
Why Supply Chain Resilience Is Under the Spotlight
Supply‑chain security has become a top priority as third‑party breaches surged, with Verizon reporting 30% of incidents linked to vendors—double the previous year—and SecurityScorecard finding over 70% of firms faced a material supplier breach. High‑profile attacks on NHS supplier DXS...
Japan to Start Releasing Extra 20 Days' Worth of Oil Reserves From May 1
Japan will begin a second strategic drawdown of its strategic petroleum reserves on May 1, releasing roughly 20 days’ worth of oil. The release adds 5.8 million kiloliters, valued at about ¥540 billion ($3.4 billion), to the 50‑day release that started in mid‑March. The oil...
Equipment Management Is a Fragmented System in Integrated Hospitals
Hospitals across the United States grapple with fragmented medical equipment management, causing lost devices, delayed repairs, and excess capital spending. Studies reveal that inconsistent inventory tracking contributes to roughly $25.4 billion in wasted supply‑chain costs each year, while nurses can spend...
Iran War Hits Asia’s Suppliers to Global Fast Fashion
The Iran‑War‑driven surge in fossil‑fuel prices is hitting polyester feedstock costs, pushing Indian yarn producer Filatex to pay roughly 30% more for PTA and MEG. Indian and Bangladeshi textile firms report sharp rises in yarn and thread prices, labor shortages,...
Hormuz Tensions Heat Up
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to fire on any vessel laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and intercepted two super‑tankers attempting to evade traffic restrictions. Iran responded by attacking at least three ships, keeping the waterway effectively...
Porterbrook Puts New Covered Freight Railcars Into Service
Porterbrook has placed 77 converted covered freight railcars into service for Heavy Haul Rail Limited, completing a 14‑month contract that began in December 2024. The wagons, originally HHA tipper coal cars, were retrofitted at WH Davis in Nottinghamshire using a lighter,...
Greek Bulker Player M/Maritime Crosses Into Boxship Sector with Korean Newbuilds
Greek shipping firm M/Maritime, traditionally a dry‑bulk operator, has placed its first container feeder ship order. The company signed for two 2,800‑TEU boxships built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, slated for delivery in early 2028. The vessels feature the eco‑focused CON‑GREEN...
Autonomous Material Handling Stack Links Thoro and Orbbec
Thoro unveiled CoreFlex, a modular autonomy platform that pairs its software stack with Orbbec’s Gemini 336 3‑D cameras, enabling plug‑and‑play automation across pallet trucks, tuggers and other industrial vehicles. The infrastructure‑free system promises to cut integration cycles by using a...
Payment Delays and Geopolitics Test Exporters
Allianz Trade’s 2026 Global Survey of 6,000 exporters shows optimism persisting despite the Middle East war, with 75% still expecting export growth, though confidence slipped six points. Geopolitical risk now tops the agenda for 65% of firms, pushing 80% to...
How Retailers Can Weather Bangladesh’s Latest Storm
On the 13th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, Drapers examines Bangladesh’s continued role as a leading garment‑manufacturing hub. The piece highlights the country’s cost advantages and large labor pool while acknowledging persistent safety and compliance challenges. It also discusses...
Geopolitics Home to Roost at a Rail Terminal Near You
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have forced container ships to bypass the Suez Canal, sending vessels around the Cape of Good Hope and causing large, irregular cargo arrivals at UK ports. The resulting clustering of containers overwhelms rail terminals,...
TEN Extends Shuttle Tanker Deals Into Next Decade
Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) has secured extensions for two shuttle tankers, adding up to five years of charter each starting around mid‑2028. The extensions are projected to generate more than $200 million in gross revenue over their term. The move reinforces...
Qld Shows Off Its Graphite Credentials
Graphinex has opened a demonstration plant in Townsville, Queensland, marking Australia’s first vertically integrated graphite‑to‑anode facility. The pilot converts raw graphite into battery‑grade anodes on‑site, showcasing a full‑scale production pathway for a critical mineral used in electric‑vehicle batteries. Queensland is...
Dship Carriers and NSB Launch MPP Management Platform
German multipurpose vessel (MPP) specialist dship Carriers and shipmanager NSB Group have formed the joint venture Hinode Shipmanagement to operate a new series of high‑spec vessels. Based in Buxtehude, Hinode will manage six D500‑class ships—14,999 DWT each with 500‑tonne crane capacity—currently...
China’s Zoomlion Debuts New Robot Operating System at Hannover Messe 2026
Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology unveiled Robot Ops, an embodied‑intelligence operating system, at Hannover Messe 2026 in Germany. The platform merges DevOps, DataOps and AgentOps into a single lifecycle solution that spans data collection, model training, simulation, deployment and...
Iran War Sparks Push to Transform Syria Into Global Energy Corridor
The United States is evaluating a plan to turn war‑torn Syria into a land‑based energy corridor, linking Gulf and Iraqi oil and gas fields to the Mediterranean and Europe. The proposal, outlined by envoy Tom Barrack, emphasizes reviving the $4.5 bn...
USG Supramax Freight Market Facing Uncertainty
The USG Supramax freight market experienced a volatile month, with spot rates spiking early due to rising bunker costs and Middle East tensions. Bunker price swings and limited vessel availability stalled the forward market, while the spot tonnage list grew...
Mumbai Owner’s MR Splurge Keeps Brokers Busy
Seven Islands Shipping, backed by Fairfax Financial, has accelerated its product tanker expansion, purchasing 11 vessels since early 2025, with six MR tankers acquired since June. The latest deal added the 51,500 dwt MR2 tanker Hansa Tromsoe for roughly $16.9 million, bringing...
Roundup: Warehousing Automation Benefits
Warehouse automation is accelerating, with Interact Analysis projecting over 6% of global warehouses adopting it by 2027. Companies that model workflows, integrate WMS with robots, stage rollouts, and plan for exceptions see the fastest ROI, according to Insurance Edge. Decathlon’s...
Can D2C Be ElasticRun’s Most Profitable Bet Yet?
ElasticRun, the Indian logistics unicorn, is pivoting from traditional B2B FMCG distribution to a D2C‑focused quick‑commerce model. The company now handles close to 5 million orders a day across 500+ cities, supported by 900+ delivery stations and about 100 fulfilment centres....
Indonesia Rules Out Collecting Transit Fees From Ships in Malacca Strait
Indonesia’s foreign minister confirmed the country will not impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Malacca, countering recent comments by Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. The decision underscores Indonesia’s support for freedom of navigation and compliance with UNCLOS, the...
Strategic Supplier Relationship Management – Do’s and Don’ts
The article outlines a practical framework for Strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), distinguishing transactional, preferred/tactical, and strategic tiers. It stresses the need for a formal, visible process, dedicated relationship owners, and executive sponsors to guide suppliers up the continuum. Standardized...
Global Shipping Order May Never Recover From Hormuz
Escalating U.S.–Iran confrontations in the Strait of Hormuz have caused shipping traffic to plunge, despite a new $40 billion U.S. maritime insurance fund aimed at stabilizing the route. The strait, which moves roughly 25% of global oil and 20% of LNG,...
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Pitches Infrastructure-Led Growth, Targets ₹30 Lakh Crore Investments for State
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled an infrastructure‑led growth plan that aims to draw roughly $360 billion in investments, positioning the state as a global investment hub. The roadmap spotlights the Vadhvan Port as a new logistics powerhouse and pledges to source...