54% of Distributors Seek Demand Forecasting Overhaul in 2026, Report Finds
A new Phocas Software report shows 54% of wholesale distributors will overhaul demand forecasting in 2026, seeking more precise, data‑driven inventory control. Nearly half (45%) plan to increase data and warehouse automation, while one‑third aim to deepen product and customer segmentation, and 31% will adjust safety stock levels. Economic uncertainty and heightened competition are driving these shifts, prompting distributors to prioritize stock availability over cash efficiency. Those with highly accurate planning already report lower inventory costs and higher service levels.
Lio Raises $30M From Andreessen Horowitz and Others to Automate Enterprise Procurement
Lio announced a $30 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, bringing its total funding to $33 million. The startup’s AI‑agent platform automates the entire procurement workflow, from contract review to supplier negotiation. Early customers report that processes once taking weeks now...
GMS Pushes EU to Recognise India’s Ship Recycling Capacity
GMS, the world’s largest cash buyer of ships for recycling, is urging the European Commission to add qualified Indian ship‑recycling yards to the EU Ship Recycling Regulation list. Over 110 Indian yards hold Hong Kong Convention compliance, yet none have been...
Hormel Foods Faces Transportation Cost Pressures
Hormel Foods reported a sharp rise in transportation expenses during Q1, driven by a severe freight capacity crunch after Winter Storm Fern slashed shipment volumes by 55% in late January. Spot freight rates climbed as driver availability tightened, extending pressure...
Fleet Buying Spree Signals Trucking Down-Cycle May Be Turning
North American fleets placed 47,200 Class 8 truck orders in February, a 159% year‑over‑year jump and the strongest monthly total since September 2022. The surge, driven by both on‑highway and vocational demand, marks the third consecutive month of double‑digit YoY growth. Analysts...
Körber’s Michael Becher to Explore AI-Driven Intralogistics at IntraLogisteX 2026
Körber’s Vice President of Digitalisation & AI, Michael Becher, will lead a session at IntraLogisteX 2026 on AI‑driven intralogistics, focusing on digital twins, agentic AI and predictive maintenance. The presentation, scheduled for March 19 at NEC Birmingham, will demonstrate how...
Costamare Orderbook Hits 10 in 3,100 Teu Series
Costamare added four more 3,100 teu vessels to its Chinese newbuilding programme, bringing total orders for that size to ten. Deliveries are scheduled between Q4 2027 and Q4 2028, each with medium‑term charter agreements secured at signing. The expansion marks the company’s re‑entry...
Marsun Partners with Eight Shipyards on Thai Navy’s Future Frigate Program
Marsun has joined the Thai Shipbuilding and Repairing Association and eight domestic shipyards in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate large‑scale naval construction projects. The partnership pools expertise in shipbuilding, systems integration and engineering to prepare for the Royal...
Wabash Launches Cargo Assurance Solution to Help Prevent Theft Before It Occurs
Wabash unveiled a cargo‑assurance platform at Manifest 2026 that turns the trailer into a secure, connected system, leveraging its 2025 TrailerHawk.AI acquisition. The solution combines a physical lock, a mobile app digital seal, and multi‑factor driver, tractor, carrier and insurance...
Great Eastern Keeps Fleet Renewal on Course with Fresh Kamsarmax Buy
Great Eastern Shipping announced the purchase of a 2014‑built Japanese kamsarmax of 81,094 dwt, slated to join its fleet in the first quarter of FY27. The acquisition is part of a broader renewal program that swaps older vessels for younger...
White House Calls on Pentagon Contractors to “Rapidly and Aggressively” Boost Weapon Production
The White House has publicly urged Pentagon contractors to "rapidly and aggressively" increase weapons production to support Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. campaign aimed at countering Iran. President Donald Trump personally pressed defense firms to accelerate output, despite Pentagon officials asserting that...
Estonian Owner Amisco Moves on MPP Newbuilds
Estonian shipowner Amisco has placed an order for two 5,900‑dwt multipurpose dry cargo vessels from Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry in China. Steel cutting for the first hull began in February 2026, with deliveries slated for the first and second quarters...
India Demand and Panama Pipeline Positive for VLGCs, Says Dorian LPG
U.S. LPG exports are hitting record levels while a 76‑km Panama pipeline, slated for post‑2031 operation, promises 2 million barrels per day capacity. Dorian LPG’s chief information officer says the pipeline will likely add loading and discharge points rather than divert cargoes,...
Middle East Crisis Hits Garment Export Routes
Rising Middle East tensions have forced major carriers such as Maersk, Hapag‑Lloyd, CMA CGM and MSC to divert vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, adding one to two weeks to Asia‑Europe apparel shipments. The disruption hits Bangladesh,...
UK Direct Rail Services Reactivates Crewe Charity Open Day
Direct Rail Services (DRS) announced the return of its annual charity open day at the Gresty Bridge depot in Crewe on 11 July. The event, a flagship public showcase for the UK’s leading rail freight operator, will allow visitors to...
Alstom and Mälardalen University Renew Strategic Industrial-Academic Partnership
Alstom and Mälardalen University have renewed a long‑standing strategic partnership to deepen collaborative research and education. The alliance targets emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and circular design, linking university curricula with real‑world railway technology. It provides students early...
The Future 5 2025-2026 – Introducing Tamarin AI
Spend Matters has named Boston‑based Tamarin AI to its Future 5 list for 2025‑2026, highlighting the startup’s AI‑native category‑management copilot. Tamarin unifies structured and unstructured spend data, delivering line‑item level cleaning, categorization, and real‑time contract‑spend reconciliation. The platform promises to cut...
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Test Autonomous Vehicle Ramp-Merging System on Tokyo Expressway
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems will conduct a live demonstration of an infrastructure‑based ramp‑merging support system for autonomous vehicles on Tokyo’s Metropolitan Expressway. The trial, scheduled for September to November 2026 near the Yoyogi inbound entrance, will test how roadside...
Captrain and CargoBeamer Expand Their Rail Services
Captrain and CargoBeamer are expanding rail freight services across Europe. CargoBeamer will increase its Calais‑Perpignan intermodal route to five weekly roundtrips, offering daily departures and a 26‑hour transit time for all semi‑trailers. In Germany, Captrain, together with LIT Speditions, has...
PAL Robotics Showcases TIAGo Pro at MWC Barcelona 2026
PAL Robotics used Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026 to showcase its next‑generation mobile manipulator, TIAGo Pro. The robot’s open‑source software stack and real‑time teleoperation demo highlighted its adaptability for research and industry deployments. CEO Francesco Ferro led a round‑table on human‑robot...
HD Hyundai Selects Siemens Xcelerator for Integrated Digital Shipbuilding Platform
HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding arm, HD KSOE, has selected Siemens’ Xcelerator platform to create an integrated digital shipbuilding environment. The platform will provide a unified data backbone linking CAD, PLM, digital manufacturing, automation and simulation, eliminating data discontinuities from design through...
Industrial IoT in Manufacturing: Driving Smart Factory Efficiency and Sustainability
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is turning smart factories from concept to reality, linking sensors, edge devices, AI analytics and cloud platforms across production lines. Real‑time data enables predictive maintenance, automated workflows and energy optimization, driving higher productivity while trimming...
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Sign Contract for Large-Scale Logistics Infrastructure Project
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have signed an EPC contract with China Railway Construction Engineering Group to build a modern multi‑purpose logistics centre (MPLC) in Tashkent. The 159.4‑hectare complex will include rail infrastructure and a container terminal, with the first phase valued...
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Impacts 4% of Global Dry Bulk Trade
BIMCO analysis shows bulk‑carrier transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell about 70% week‑over‑week, affecting roughly 4% of global dry‑bulk volumes. Arrow Shipbroking data indicate 1.9% of Capesize, 5.6% of Panamax and 5.7% of Supramax/Handymax demand passed the strait in...
Iran Crisis Could Disrupt Supply of Key Chipmaking Materials, South Korea Warns
A South Korean ruling‑party lawmaker warned that the escalating US‑Israel war with Iran could jeopardize the supply of essential semiconductor materials, particularly helium, which is critical for heat management in chip fabrication. The Korean chip sector, responsible for roughly two‑thirds...
Moroccan Rail Freight Growth Carried by Phosphates
Moroccan rail freight volumes rose 8% year‑on‑year in 2025, reaching 23 million tonnes and generating roughly €181 million in revenue. The surge is driven largely by phosphate transportation, as the country’s exports of the mineral jumped 21% in the first seven months,...
Rio Tinto Signs Mining Electrification MoU with CATL
Rio Tinto and battery giant CATL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate electrification across mining operations. The partnership will develop strategies for battery‑powered equipment, supply‑chain integration, and circular‑economy initiatives such as battery material recycling. CATL will contribute its...
Government, Industry Launch Network to Help Australian Exporters Diversify
The Australian Government and industry groups launched the Trade Diversification Network (TDN) on 4 March as part of the $50 million Accessing New Markets Initiative. The network brings together 40 national peak bodies to provide coordinated market‑intelligence, trade services and sector‑specific support...
Nvidia Refocuses TSMC Capacity as Export Controls Stall China Sales
Nvidia is redirecting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) production capacity away from chips destined for the Chinese market after U.S. export controls limited its sales. The chipmaker is prioritising higher‑margin data‑center and automotive GPUs for customers outside China, while TSMC...
Why an Obscure Rail Tax Credit Should Matter to Truckers
Railroads gathered on Capitol Hill to push a modernized 45G tax credit, which reimburses 40% of rail infrastructure spending up to $3,500 per mile. The industry cites more than $8 billion in investments and a 50% reduction in derailments since the...
Child-Safety Focus Drives New Washing Machine Design Standard Ahead of 2026 Deadline
Standards Australia amended AS/NZS 60335.2.7 to mandate a dual‑action start mechanism for washing machines sold in Australia and New Zealand from July 2026. The change, driven by child‑safety incidents such as the 2021 Christchurch tragedy, requires two distinct user inputs before a cycle...
Opportunities Are Emerging for Port Investors Even Despite Signs of Deglobalisation
Port investors are re‑evaluating asset values as global trade patterns shift, despite growing signs of de‑globalisation. The sector’s relative valuation is being reassessed against alternative infrastructure classes, revealing new upside potential. Analysts note that bottlenecks, supply‑chain diversification, and emerging trade...
Push to Attract More Women Into Queensland Manufacturing Careers
Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) has launched a new campaign to draw more women into the state’s $28.9 billion manufacturing sector, which faces acute skills shortages. The initiative centers on the Manufacturing Industry Influencer Program, featuring female professionals from boilermaking to rocket...
Manufacturing Begins on Guided Missiles in Australia, Defence Says
The Australian Defence Department has launched domestic production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) at a new facility in Port Wakefield, South Australia. The first batch of missiles is slated for completion by mid‑March 2026, marking the first GMLRS...
Manufacturing Reform Urged to Unlock Clean Aluminium Recycling Opportunity
The Australian Aluminium Council released an L.E.K. Consulting report urging policy reform to unlock large‑scale clean aluminium recycling. While recycling consumes only about five percent of the energy required for primary production, high energy costs, tight scrap margins and fragmented...
The US Is Unlikely to Curtail China’s Critical Minerals Dominance
The United States convened a critical‑minerals summit to curb China’s overwhelming role in battery and electric‑vehicle supply chains, but China still controls over 80 percent of global lithium‑ion battery production and 90 percent of grid‑scale storage. Washington has taken minority stakes in...
UK Rail Research Leader Speaks on Manufacturing, Collaboration in Melbourne
Luisa Moisio, Director of Research at the UK Rail Safety and Standards Board, delivered the 13th Stephen Marich Annual Lecture at Monash University, outlining two decades of British rail research collaboration. She emphasized the UK Rail Technical Strategy and the...
Fastmarkets Proposes to Change Mexico Non-Ferrous Scrap Units
Fastmarkets announced it will convert its Mexico non‑ferrous scrap price assessments from peso per pound to peso per kilogram. The change aligns the pricing units with the kilogram‑based invoicing and contract norms used by most suppliers, processors and buyers in...
Port of the Future 2026: A Look Back, a Path Forward
The Port of the Future Conference, launched in 2019 by Dr. Tony Ambler and now directed by Kevin Clement, brings together maritime operators, academia, and policymakers to explore next‑generation port technologies. Its agenda spotlights AI, automation, digitalization, and decarbonization, offering...
Target Begins Roll Out of Next-Day Delivery to 20 More Cities
Target Corp. announced it will extend its next‑day delivery service to 20 additional metropolitan areas, pushing the total number of cities offering the option to more than 50 and covering roughly 60% of the U.S. population. The rollout is part...
TPM26: Europe’s Persistent Port Congestion Won’t Be Remedied by Short-Term Fixes
Europe’s main import gateways suffer from chronic buffer‑capacity shortages, turning port congestion into a persistent bottleneck rather than a fleeting disruption. Industry leaders warn that the lack of short‑term remedies will continue to erode vessel schedule reliability and strain inventory...
Is Single Sourcing, or Sole Sourcing, Dead?
The COVID‑19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of supply chains that rely on single or sole sourcing, as lockdowns and demand spikes caused widespread stockouts. Single sourcing can secure lower prices and simplify supplier management, but it leaves firms vulnerable when...
CSCMP Edge Show to Feature Keynote Address by Marini
The 2026 30th Annual Third‑Party Logistics Study reveals that only 55 % of outsourced logistics spend is classified as strategic partnerships, highlighting a gap between rhetoric and reality. Shippers cite supply‑chain disruption, cost optimisation and digital transformation as primary drivers, while 3PLs...
Victoria Expands Battery Recycling Network with 50 New Collection Points
The Victorian Government announced the addition of 50 new battery recycling collection points, supplementing upgrades at 17 existing sites, to make disposal safer and easier. Funding will support local councils and registered charities, with more than 30 locations placed in...
Webinar Summary: US Supreme Court Ruling Triggers Major Shifts in US Trade Enforcement Strategy
The U.S. Supreme Court’s February 20 decision declared all tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) illegal, immediately halting collection and creating uncertainty for importers. In response, the administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act, imposing a...
Armon Shipyard Delivers MAURIC Fast Ferry Bindy II
Spanish shipyard Armon has delivered the MAURIC‑designed Fast Ferry Bindy II to Morlenn Express, a 29‑meter catamaran capable of carrying 400 passengers at 20 knots. The vessel features an all‑aluminum wave‑piercer hull and IMO Tier III‑compliant engines, meeting the latest European passenger‑vessel directives....
Is Myanmar’s Military Government Planning Airstrikes on Rare Earth Mines?
A potential supply shock emerged as Myanmar's junta reportedly plans airstrikes on rare‑earth mines in the Kachin‑controlled Pang War region. Chinese mining firms responded by raising national flags on sites and ordering bomb‑shelter construction to signal locations to aircraft. China...
Middle East War Puts Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks in Limbo
Container lines have halted 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific service contract negotiations as the Middle East war ties up roughly 10% of global container tonnage and pushes bunker fuel prices higher. The conflict adds uncertainty to cost structures and functional capacity, prompting carriers...
Middle East War Slows Trans-Pacific Service Contract Talks Further
Container carriers are pausing or slowing 2026‑27 trans‑Pacific service contract negotiations as they gauge the fallout from the Middle East war. The conflict has immobilized an estimated 2 %‑10 % of global container tonnage, tightening available capacity. Simultaneously, soaring bunker fuel prices...
EU Unveils Maritime Industrial and Ports Strategies to Boost Shipbuilding, Security, and Decarbonization
The European Commission unveiled two coordinated initiatives—the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy—to reinforce Europe’s shipbuilding capacity, secure port operations, and accelerate the sector’s shift to clean energy. Key measures include a Maritime Value Chains Alliance, a...
