Thailand Approves US$468m Investment From Isuzu
The Thai Board of Investment has approved a THB 15 billion (~US$468 million) investment by Isuzu Motors (Thailand) to upgrade its manufacturing footprint. The plan focuses on expanding automation across chassis welding, body assembly and painting, while introducing Euro 6‑compliant pickup models and solar‑powered clean energy at its plants. By bolstering these capabilities, Isuzu aims to cement Thailand as a primary global production hub for the Japanese automaker. The company, Thailand’s second‑largest vehicle producer, built roughly 172,000 units last year, with pickups accounting for about 76% of output.
Vessel Brings over Half a Billion Gallons of US LNG to Puerto Rico
The American Energy, the first U.S.-flagged LNG carrier dedicated to Puerto Rico, completed its first year of service in March 2026 after delivering more than 500 million gallons of U.S.-sourced liquefied natural gas. The volume is enough to power about 1.2 million homes...
West Asia Conflict Hits India’s Seafood Exports to Gulf Nations
The escalation of the West Asia conflict has virtually halted India’s seafood shipments to Gulf markets, wiping out roughly 90% of exports to the region. Industry estimates place the value of these exports at $240‑$300 million, about 3‑4% of India’s total...
CMA CGM Doubles Down on Vietnam with Terminal Upgrade
CMA CGM is expanding its 25% stake in Gemalink’s Cai Mep terminal in southern Vietnam. The upgrade will lift capacity from 1.7 million TEU to roughly 3 million TEU, adding a 450‑metre quay extension, a larger container yard and five new ship‑to‑shore cranes. Completion...
How Hormuz Could Shape China’s Taiwan Strategy
The article draws a parallel between Iran’s 2023 closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a potential Chinese strategy to cripple Taiwan without a conventional blockade. By creating insurance‑driven uncertainty, Beijing could halt semiconductor shipments, leveraging its “fortress economy” stockpiles...
NPSPL Speciality Chemicals to Set up Cathode Material Company in Andhra Pradesh
NPSPL Speciality Chemicals Private Limited will invest roughly ₹2,550 crore (about $307 million) to build a cathode material plant on 105 acres in Gudupalle, Andhra Pradesh. The state government approved the project, which is slated to generate 400 jobs and will benefit...
Logistics Firm Cainiao Takes Last Space at Prologis Apex Park in Daventry
Cainiao, Alibaba’s logistics arm, has signed a 10‑year lease for the 150,911 sq ft DC4 warehouse at Prologis Apex Park in Daventry, completing the park’s occupancy. The refurbished space features LED lighting, solar panels and EV‑charging, earning an EPC “A” rating. Cainiao’s...
Bosch Sees Strong Order Visibility as It Bets on Safety with Chassis Acquisition
Bosch Limited reports a "very full" order book in India as it finalizes the acquisition of Bosch Chassis Systems India, a market leader in safety and braking with three plants and roughly 2,000 employees. The deal expands Bosch's mobility portfolio,...
Why Shipowners Should Pay Attention to Their War Risk Cover
The London P&I Club warns that escalating geopolitical tensions are worsening the maritime risk environment, prompting shipowners to reassess their war risk insurance. Standard marine policies typically exclude war‑related damage, requiring separate coverage for threats such as piracy, terrorism and...
Dependence on Hormuz Highlights Need for Gulf Rail Freight Corridor
Maritime analyst Philip Delmas warned that recurring disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are pushing Gulf Cooperation Council nations to accelerate the long‑delayed Saudi Landbridge rail freight corridor. The 1,500‑kilometre line would link Jeddah on the Red Sea with Dammam...
Sweden and Finland Agree on Facilitating Cross-Border Rail Traffic
Finland’s Traficom and Sweden’s transport agency have signed an agreement that streamlines cross‑border rail traffic at the Tornio‑Haparanda checkpoint. Effective 10 April 2026, a single safety certificate issued in either country will also cover operations on the opposite side of the gauge‑change...
Bicester Logistics Hub Expects ‘Record Store Day’ Order Surge
DP World is preparing for a record surge at its Bicester logistics hub ahead of Record Store Day, planning to ship over 210,000 vinyl records across more than 230 releases to independent UK retailers. The 270,000‑sq‑ft facility handled eight million...
Performance Shipping Secures Repsol Charters for Suezmax Newbuilds
Performance Shipping, a Nasdaq‑listed Greek tanker owner, has secured long‑term charters for its two suezmax newbuilds with Repsol Trading. The 158,000‑dwt vessels being built in Shanghai will earn $35,000 per day on a seven‑year contract and $36,850 per day on...
BMW Starts Series Production on Second E-Drive Motor Line at Steyr Plant
BMW has launched a second e‑drive motor production line at its Steyr plant in Austria, just nine months after the first Gen6 line began series output. The expansion raises annual motor capacity to more than 100,000 units, enabling the company...
Rithum SupplyExplorer – Discover and Connect with High-Value Suppliers
Rithum has launched SupplyExplorer, an AI‑driven platform that helps retailers discover and connect with high‑value suppliers. The core Merchant Match module generates curated supplier recommendations based on a retailer’s categories, growth priorities, and business needs. Complementary Network Profiles provide supplier‑controlled...
China, Russia Ties Driving North Korean Economic Recovery, Seoul Says
South Korea’s unification ministry reports that North Korea’s economy is emerging from a contraction, driven by deeper trade and diplomatic ties with China and Russia. Air China has resumed direct flights and daily rail links to Pyongyang, signaling improved logistics....
2025 Results: ÖBB Rail Cargo Group Not Spared by Industrial Downturn
ÖBB’s Rail Cargo Group reported a 4% drop in transport performance to 26.2 bn net tonne‑kilometres in 2025, yet sales rose 6% to €2.09 bn (≈$2.30 bn). Earnings before taxes swung to a loss of €135.5 mn (≈-$149 mn), far deeper than the €24.5 mn loss...
MMD Strikes Deal with CiDi to Bring Autonomy to TraxIQ Platform
MMD Group Limited has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with CiDi Inc. to embed CiDi’s autonomous driving hardware and software into MMD’s TraxIQ material‑handling platform. The deal includes retrofit kits that will convert existing mining equipment into driverless units, allowing...
The Supply Gap No One’s Talking About Is Repricing Copper Developers
ING projects a 600,000‑tonne refined copper deficit by 2026 as ore grades have fallen 40% since 1991 and new mines take an average 17 years to reach production. Tight inventories and rising demand from AI infrastructure and grid expansion are...
Webinar Recap: The Role of Combined Transport During a Fuel Crisis
A RailFreight.com webinar featuring UIRR policy advisor Akos Ersek and Metrans head Martin Koubek examined how Europe’s combined‑transport sector can mitigate the current fuel crisis. They highlighted the mode’s lower dependence on oil, thanks to electric locomotives and trucks powered...
Catching the Harmonic Breeze: Inpex Charts LNG Fleet’s Course with New Carrier
Inpex Shipping has signed a long‑term time charter with MOL Encean for a newly built LNG carrier, Harmonic Breeze, currently under construction at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard. The vessel, featuring a 174,000 cubic‑metre membrane containment system, is slated for delivery in...
Russian Energy Remains Sticking Point as Hungary Eyes Fresh Start
Peter Magyar, Hungary's new prime minister, has signaled a more EU‑aligned stance but insists that any move away from Russian oil and gas must be preceded by viable alternatives. Hungary’s key supply line, the Druzhba pipeline, has been offline since...
Durham Brands Boosts Warehouse Productivity with New WMS
Durham Brands’ Gimme Beauty has lifted warehouse productivity and accuracy after deploying Infios' warehouse management system. Inventory accuracy climbed to 98.5% with zero audit errors, and case throughput per full‑time employee nearly doubled to 19,000. The company beat its December...
PNGRB Initiates Suo Motu Bidding Process for LPG Pipelines
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has launched a suo‑motu bidding process for nine LPG pipeline projects totaling about 2,500 km. The initiative aims to replace bulk road transport of LPG by 2030, improving safety, efficiency and environmental performance....
Purchase Without Limits | Integrate Your Favorite Suppliers with a Universal PunchOut Connector
Precoro launched a Universal PunchOut Connector that enables procurement teams to link any supplier’s catalog directly within the platform. Users simply provide supplier credentials, fill a short profile, and choose PR or PO initiation, completing integration in three steps without...
Teijin Frontier Raises Polyester Fibre Prices by 20% Amid Rising Oil Costs
Teijin Frontier announced a 20% or greater price increase for its polyester fibres, filament and staple fibres, spun yarns and non‑woven fabrics, effective on shipments from 7 April 2026. The hike pushes overall textile prices up 15%‑25% as the company grapples with...
Trump’s Oil Gamble Could Blow up in His Face
Donald Trump’s escalation of the Iran conflict has pushed crude oil to about $100 a barrel and spurred a rapid redeployment of U.S. super‑tankers to the Atlantic, seeking to replace Gulf‑origin supplies now blocked by the Strait of Hormuz. While...
Nissan Eyes Chery Deal to Sublease Sunderland Plant
Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK is running at roughly 50% capacity, prompting the automaker to explore sub‑leasing options. The company is in talks with China’s Chery, and possibly Dongfeng, to share production lines at the facility that employs about...
US Widens Hormuz Blockade Net as Dark Fleet Hunted Across Pacific
The U.S. Central Command has broadened its blockade of Iranian shipping, now applying to all Iranian‑flagged vessels, OFAC‑sanctioned ships, and any craft suspected of moving contraband, regardless of location. The order expands the net to the Pacific, targeting dark‑fleet tankers...
6K Additive Wins $2M Defense Contract to Localize Critical Metal Powders
6K Additive has secured an approximately $2 million Phase II contract from the Department of Defense to transform scrap metal from U.S. military depots into high‑purity powders of nickel, titanium, tungsten and niobium. The 18‑month effort leverages the company’s UniMelt microwave‑plasma refining...
Europe Can Help Clear Mines in Strait of Hormuz, France Says
French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin announced that Belgium, the Netherlands and France have mine‑clearance assets that could escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The capability is defensive, not offensive, and will be discussed at a Paris meeting of...
The Uncertain Future of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor
The China‑Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) remains stalled despite renewed political overtures after Myanmar’s sham election. Beijing has backed the military regime, mediating ceasefires and establishing a BRI implementation committee, yet security crises in Rakhine and Shan states keep the Kyaukphyu...
The Fiscal Analysis of Rail Baltica Demonstrates the Project’s Financial Viability
A high‑level fiscal analysis by RB Rail shows that every euro invested in Rail Baltica’s construction generates roughly 19‑21 cents in tax revenue for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The study models three funding scenarios—conservative, mixed (most likely) and optimistic—illustrating how national budget contributions...
China Exports a Ton of Cleantech — and the World Is Poised to Want More
China remains the world’s leading producer of solar panels, batteries and wind‑turbine equipment, and it is rapidly expanding exports of electric vehicles and batteries, especially to Europe. Despite EU tariffs introduced in October 2024, Chinese EVs captured 9% of EU...
BMW I7 Sustainability Upgrades Cut Battery Supply Chain Emissions by 33%
BMW has upgraded the i7 luxury electric sedan with sixth‑generation (Gen6) battery cells that are produced using 100% renewable energy and higher shares of recycled lithium, cobalt and nickel. The new cells lower the battery’s supply‑chain carbon footprint by roughly...
Tata & Iveco’s 2026 Outlook Dampened by Middle East Conflict
Automotive World projects Tata Motors Ltd., including its Iveco commercial‑vehicle arm, to produce about 565,500 units in 2026, a modest 2.2% rise over 2025. The forecast is tempered by the ongoing Middle East conflict, which could curb freight volumes, lift...
Glass Fibre: EU Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports From Bahrain, Egypt, Thailand
The European Union has imposed anti‑dumping duties on glass‑fibre reinforcements imported from Bahrain, Egypt and Thailand, citing unfair practices by Chinese firms operating in those countries. Duties range from 11% to 25.4%, with Egyptian imports facing a combined rate of...
Basic Fuel Price Formula in Focus Amid Dramatic Shift in South Africa’s Supply Sources
South Africa’s Department of Mineral and Petroleum is overhauling its Basic Fuel Price (BFP) formula for diesel as the country pivots from Gulf‑origin imports to new suppliers in the Atlantic Basin, including Brazil, Mexico and the United States. The shift...
Hithium Signs €400 Million Spain Battery Gigafactory Investment Agreement After Two-Year Courtship
Chinese battery maker Hithium has signed a €400 million (US$471 million) investment commitment to build a gigafactory in Navarre, Spain, slated to create 700 direct jobs and start operations in 2027. The deal, signed by Hithium’s founder Jeff Wu and Spanish officials...
FT: Nissan, Chery Explore Unused Capacity Deal at Sunderland
Japanese automaker Nissan is in talks with Chinese manufacturer Chery to use idle capacity at its Sunderland, UK plant. Sources cited by the Financial Times say discussions have begun, though neither company has confirmed a deal. The Sunderland facility, capable...
Yangzijiang Maritime Places Major VLCC Bet with Eight-Ship Order
Yangzijiang Maritime Development, a Singapore‑listed shipowner, placed an order for eight new 319,000‑dwt VLCCs at a Chinese shipyard, with deliveries slated for 2028‑2030. The vessels will incorporate fuel‑optimised hulls, electronically controlled engines and other energy‑saving devices to meet or exceed...
Go Dual or Go Bust? Rationalising Operational Choices for the Future
Industry leaders at the CMA Shipping 2026 conference debated whether the maritime sector should adopt dual‑fuel engines or risk falling behind. The panel confirmed that dual‑fuel technology—capable of running on LNG, methanol, ethanol or ammonia—is technically mature, but widespread uptake is...
High-Speed CRRC EMUs Unveiled in Ningbo
CRRC and Ningbo Rail Transit have unveiled new Type A electric multiple units for Lines 10 and 12, capable of 160 km/h—double the speed of existing services. The lightweight, aerodynamic trains cut weight by 4.28 tons and reduce energy consumption by roughly 15 %. Designed for...
Pakistan Oil Tanker Is First to Cross Hormuz Since US Blockade
A Pakistan‑flagged Aframax tanker, the Shalamar, became the first vessel to exit the Strait of Hormuz with a crude cargo since the United States imposed a naval blockade earlier this week. The ship carried roughly 450,000 barrels of oil loaded...
Splash Wrap: Next Generation MSC
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) became the first container carrier to operate 1,000 vessels after the delivery of the 11,480‑teu MSC Migsan from Zhoushan Changhong shipyard in China. Founder Gianluigi Aponte, 85, handed the business to his son Diego and daughter Alexa,...
Seaspan Breaks Into MPP Segment with Four Newbuilds
Seaspan, the world’s largest container‑ship leasing firm, has placed its first dry‑bulk order, contracting China’s New Dayang Shipbuilding to build four 65,200‑dwt open‑hatch multipurpose vessels. The ships, equipped with gantry cranes and box‑shaped cargo holds, are slated for delivery in...
IMSAR Triples Manufacturing Capacity & Scales High-Performance Radar Production
IMSAR LLC announced that it has tripled its manufacturing footprint in Springville, Utah, and expanded its production workforce to meet surging demand for its airborne radar systems. The new facility consolidates engineering, rapid prototyping, and high‑volume assembly, allowing the company...
Russian GRU Cyber Campaign Targets Western Logistics Firms Supporting Ukraine
A joint cybersecurity advisory has identified a sustained Russian GRU operation, attributed to Unit 26165 (APT28/Fancy Bear), that has been targeting Western logistics firms and technology providers supporting Ukraine since early 2022. The campaign leverages credential‑guessing, spear‑phishing, and weaponized CVEs such as...
Pacific Basin Drops Methanol Dual-Fuel Orders in Newbuild Rethink
Pacific Basin Shipping has scrapped four 64,000‑dwt dual‑fuel ultramax newbuild orders and replaced them with four conventional vessels costing $156.8 million, slated for delivery between 2028 and mid‑2029. The company retained an option for two methanol dual‑fuel ultramaxes worth $91 million, with...
Bleckmann Partners Australian Swimwear Brand for First EU Logistics Base
Bleckmann has partnered with Australian swimwear label Kulani Kinis to launch the brand’s first European logistics hub in Venlo, Netherlands. The move shifts warehousing, order fulfilment and returns from Australia to Europe, cutting delivery times from up to six days...