International Parcel Firm Touches Down at SEGRO Park Axis Near Heathrow
Asendia, the joint venture of La Poste and Swiss Post, has signed a lease for an 81,500 sq ft Grade‑A warehouse at SEGRO Park Axis, a logistics park adjacent to Heathrow Airport. The site will be enlarged by 29,349 sq ft, raising the internal eaves to 15 m and adding new office space, with construction due for completion in September 2026 and occupancy planned for January 2027. SEGRO is pursuing BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A+’ sustainability certifications for the building. In its 2025 results, SEGRO reported a record $127 m of new headline rent and $652 m profit, up 8.3%.
New Japan–Philippines Shipping Route Supports Ichijo Komuten
DP World, using CMA CGM’s revised JP8 service, launched a weekly direct shipping lane between Sendai and the Philippines on 18 March, the first regular Japan‑Philippines link in eight years. The route calls at Manila South Harbour and Batangas Integrated Port, enabling...
Energy Supply Disruptions From Middle East War to Persist, IEA and IMF Warn
The International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund and World Bank warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict will keep global oil and gas markets disrupted, even if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes. The shock is described as substantial,...
ERTMS Trackbot Starts Operations in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has launched its first real‑world deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Trackbot on the Northern Lines between Leeuwarden and Harlingen Haven. Developed by Strukton, AMT and No Man Trackwork with Hitachi support, the autonomous robot...
Japan to Launch $10B Fund to Help Asia Secure Oil
Japan announced a $10 billion financial framework, administered by state‑backed lenders JBIC and NEXI, to help Asian nations secure oil amid heightened Middle East tensions. The fund is equivalent to roughly 1.2 billion barrels, or about one year of crude imports for...
Iran War Pushes Global Food Markets Toward Crisis Mode
The Iran‑Israel conflict is tightening the Strait of Hormuz, choking a key route for oil and agricultural inputs. The IMF and OECD warn that the resulting energy shock could push global inflation above 7% and shrink growth to around 2%,...
MinebeaMitsumi Targets Cambodia as US Export Base – Report
Japanese precision parts maker MinebeaMitsumi is positioning Cambodia as a hub for U.S. exports. The company opened a second 500,000 m² factory in Pursat in November, focusing on LiDAR sensor components for autonomous vehicles. The move expands its “Thailand‑plus‑one” strategy after...
Eni Ships Venezuelan Crude to Europe After Two-Year Gap
Italian energy giant Eni loaded a 1‑million‑barrel cargo of heavy Venezuelan crude bound for Spain, the first European shipment in almost two years. The cargo left the Jose terminal aboard the Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Front Cruiser after U.S. licenses cleared...
Tariffs Push Garment Workers Into Crisis
New research from the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre shows that U.S. tariffs introduced in 2025 prompted apparel brands to abruptly alter sourcing locations, pricing structures, and order volumes. These rapid adjustments transferred financial risk to suppliers and, ultimately,...
Thule to Build Automated Warehouse in Poland
Swedish outdoor‑gear maker Thule has hired logistics specialist Mecalux to design and build a new automated warehouse in Krzyż Wielkopolski, Poland. The 42‑meter‑tall clad‑rack facility will house six stacker cranes and a floor‑mounted electric monorail, providing capacity for almost 40,000...
S. Korea Secures 273 Mil. Barrels of Crude Oil, 2.1 Mil. Tons of Naphtha by Year-End: Presidential Aide
South Korea secured 273 million barrels of crude oil and 2.1 million tons of naphtha for delivery by year‑end after a diplomatic tour of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kazakhstan. The volume covers roughly three months of oil consumption and one month...
Iran Holds the Trump Card in This Energy Crisis
The International Energy Agency warns the Gulf standoff is cutting 13 million barrels of oil daily, potentially rising to 15 million if the U.S. blocks Iranian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has threatened to extend the conflict to the Red...
German Drone Maker Launches GEREON Production in the UK
German robotics firm ARX Robotics has started UK production of its GEREON uncrewed ground vehicle after securing a British Army contract. The £45 million ($57 million) investment will enable a capacity of up to 1,800 vehicles per year and create at least...
EUR 66 Million for Signalling on the Córdoba–Bobadilla Conventional Line
Spain’s rail infrastructure manager Adif has signed a €65.8 million (≈$71.7 million) contract to modernise signalling on the Valchillón‑Torres Cabrera‑Fuente de Piedra segment of the Córdoba‑Bobadilla line. The work will install a single‑track automatic block system linked to a centralized traffic control (CTC) platform and...
Australia to Import 1.6mn Bl Gasoline From Europe
Australia is arranging to import roughly 1.6 million barrels of non‑oxy gasoline from Europe to shore up its dwindling fuel reserves. A price premium of over $34 per barrel in Singapore relative to Europe opened a lucrative arbitrage window, prompting shipments...
Czechs Put Siemens and Škoda Multi-System Locomotives up for Sale
Czech national railway operator České dráhy announced the sale of its surplus multi‑system locomotives, including six Siemens 1216 (Taurus) units and several Škoda‑built Class 380 units. The 1216 series, built between 2007‑2011, delivers 6 MW at 230 km/h and is certified for operation in...
ÖBB Rail Connections to Vienna International Airport Support Regional Development
ÖBB’s rail network to Vienna International Airport carried about 10.5 million passengers in 2025, a 70% rise since 2014 and now accounts for 40% of airport travelers. The service generates roughly $17 million in annual economic value and cuts CO₂ emissions by...
CER: Railways Can Reduce Europe’s Energy Dependence
The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) released an analysis linking rail expansion to Europe’s push for energy independence. It quantifies current savings—144,000 barrels of oil per day for freight and 220,000 barrels for passengers—along with €4.5 bn ($5 bn)...
Maharlika Eyes Oil Storage Venture with PNOC to Boost Energy Resilience
Maharlika Investment Corp (MIC) is exploring a partnership with the state‑owned Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) and private firms to build an oil‑storage tank farm that would expand the Philippines’ strategic stockpiling capacity. The sovereign wealth fund could commit up...
Trains Return to Flood-Hit Czech Rail Line After 18 Months
Czech Railways will restart service on the Lipová Lázně–Javorník line (Line 295) on 16 April 2026, ending an 18‑month suspension caused by severe September 2024 flooding. Infrastructure manager Správa železnic completed all repairs, allowing the first scheduled trains to run at 04:13 and 05:10....
Boeing Deliveries Soar Past Airbus for the First Time in Years, but This Is No Time to Unbuckle Your Seat...
Boeing shipped 143 commercial aircraft in the first quarter of 2026, outpacing Airbus's 114 deliveries for the first time in seven years. The surge was driven mainly by 737 production, while Boeing warned of a forthcoming slowdown due to wiring...
War in Iran Dampens NZ Manufacturing Optimism Despite Continued Growth
New Zealand’s manufacturing PMI slipped to 53.2 in March, down from 54.8 in February but still above the 50‑point expansion threshold. The decline coincided with a sharp rise in negative sentiment, as 62% of firms cited the war in Iran...
ANDRITZ Wins Equipment Order for India’s Largest 3,000 MW Pumped Storage Project in Maharashtra
Technology firm ANDRITZ announced it has won a contract to supply ten pump turbines, motor‑generators and related electromechanical equipment for Torrent Power’s Saidongar‑1 Karjat pumped‑storage project in Maharashtra. The deal, valued at roughly €200 million (about $215 million), will be fulfilled in...
CNBC's UK Exchange Newsletter: Britain's Jet Fuel Crunch — and How We Got Here
Britain’s jet‑fuel supply chain is under strain as refinery capacity has slumped 41% since 2000, leaving only four plants to cover about 85% of refined‑product needs. The country now imports 3.1 times more kerosene than it produces, with roughly 60%...
AI-Driven Chip Shortage Slowing Efforts to Get World Online: GSMA
GSMA warns that the AI‑driven memory chip shortage is inflating smartphone prices and curbing production of low‑end devices, slowing efforts to connect the 2.2 billion unconnected people worldwide. Chipmakers are prioritising high‑bandwidth chips for AI data centres, leaving fewer affordable chips...
FARO CREAFORM Cuts Laser Line Probe Time to Data on Challenging Surfaces
FARO CREAFORM has released a software update for its Laser Line Probe (LLP) portfolio used with the Quantum X and Quantum Max FaroArm series. The new DTEX‑based image‑processing algorithms improve scan consistency and slash time‑to‑data by up to 60 % on dark, reflective...
China Told Maersk and MSC to Drop Panama Port Operations
China’s Ministry of Transport has instructed A.P. Moller‑Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company to cease all operations at Panama’s Balboa port, part of a broader push to tighten control over maritime logistics. The directive, framed as a national security measure, forces...
Responsive Fueling Vital to Landmark Excavating
Landmark Excavating, a Utah‑based heavy civil contractor, faces complex fueling logistics across multiple job sites in Utah and southern Nevada. To curb downtime, the firm purchased two Thunder Creek 920‑gallon multi‑tank trailers that carry diesel and DEF on‑site, eliminating the...
Why Did China Buy Up the World’s Ports?
China’s state‑run agencies and SOEs have financed 363 port projects worth roughly $24 billion across 168 ports in 90 countries since 2000, creating a global maritime network that blends commercial returns with strategic leverage. The AidData report shows that about 35%...
The China Shock 2.0
China’s economy generated a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus last year, intensifying fears that its flood of imports could swamp industries worldwide. European policymakers are drafting rules that would require Chinese firms opening factories in the EU to transfer technology and...
For Iran, Hormuz Is More a Weakness Than a Weapon
The United States launched a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz six weeks into its conflict with Iran, aiming to choke a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. While analysts have long viewed Tehran’s control of Hormuz as a...
Aatmanirbhar 2.0: India Building Inner Strength to Get over Supply Chain Pain
India has unveiled Aatmanirbhar 2.0, a refreshed self‑reliance drive aimed at insulating critical supply chains and bolstering energy security amid the West Asia conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered ministries to draft short‑ and long‑term sector plans that cut import dependence...
Hazer and KBR Complete Commercial-Scale Hydrogen Design Package for Global Rollout
Hazer Group and engineering firm KBR have finished a commercial‑scale Process Design Package (PDP) for the Hazer methane‑pyrolysis hydrogen technology. The PDP outlines a standardised 30,000‑tonne‑per‑year hydrogen plant design, intended to streamline feasibility studies, basic engineering and front‑end engineering work....
Manufacturing Project to Advance 3D-Printed Naval Components, CDU Says
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is leading a Queensland Defence Sciences Alliance‑funded project to use SPEE3D’s cold‑spray additive manufacturing to 3D‑print nickel aluminium bronze (NAB) naval propulsion components. The initiative brings together James Cook University, the Australian Institute of Marine Science...
Green Packaging Finally Takes Off as Iran War Causes Plastic Prices Rises
South Korean packaging firm Yonwoo reports a three‑fold surge in inquiries for its paper tubes and pouches as the Iran war drives plastic feedstock prices to four‑year highs. The conflict has choked oil‑based raw materials, forcing Asian manufacturers to seek...
Baskit Raises US$4.4M to Take Indonesia’s Offline Distribution Playbook Regional
Indonesian supply‑chain startup Baskit closed a $4.4 million Series A round, complemented by a $3 million revolving credit facility from HSBC Innovation Banking, bringing total funding to $9.9 million. The AI‑enabled platform integrates software, logistics, payments and embedded credit to help consumer brands reach...
Weld Australia, ASSDA Sign Manufacturing-Focused MoU to Boost Industry Collaboration
Weld Australia and the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association (ASSDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen collaboration across the manufacturing sector. The MoU creates a reciprocal membership arrangement, giving members expanded access to events, technical resources, training and...
For FDI, E-Comm Exports Must Be in Separate Cart
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has rolled out reforms to streamline e‑commerce exports, including lifting the Rs 10 lakh (≈ $12,000) value cap per courier shipment. The government is evaluating allowing foreign direct investment in inventory‑based e‑commerce solely for overseas...
MODEX 2026: Software Integrations, Vision Systems, Cobots and More From Day Two in Atlanta
Day two of MODEX 2026 in Atlanta showcased a surge of supply‑chain innovations, with over 1,000 exhibitors displaying new software integrations, vision‑guided robotics and collaborative cobots. Attendees explored live demos and attended seminars that highlighted how these technologies streamline warehouse operations...
Space Force Urges Industry to Invest in Satellite Production Capacity
The U.S. Space Force is seeking a dramatic expansion of its satellite‑production capability as it prepares a $71 billion FY 2027 budget request, a 77 percent increase over the prior year. The procurement portion swells to $19 billion, up from $3.6 billion in FY 2026, and...
SBMA to Reduce Tariff, Cargo Charges by 5% Amid Middle East Conflict
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority announced a temporary 5% cut to tariffs, cargo charges and related fees at the Port of Subic, alongside extended free‑storage periods, to offset cost pressures from the Middle East conflict. The relief package also waives...
Smart Catering: Reducing Cabin Food Waste with AI
Airbus and Virgin Atlantic have piloted an AI‑driven “Smart Catering” system to track in‑flight meal consumption and inventory. The technology uses camera‑based scanning on crew tablets to automatically log unused food and beverages, sending data to a ground cloud for...
Which Countries Are Most Vulnerable as US Imposes Its Own Blockade in Persian Gulf?
The United States has begun a unilateral blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about energy‑supply disruptions. Nomura’s analysis flags Asian importers such as Thailand, India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as European economies like Germany, Italy and...
Iran’s Trade with Tajikistan Experiences Q1 Spike
Bilateral trade between Iran and Tajikistan jumped 50% in Q1 2026, reaching about $120 million, despite the outbreak of the US‑Israeli‑Iran war. Tajik exports accounted for roughly $24 million of that total, while a massive convoy of 110 trucks delivered over 3,600 tons...
Q&A: As Thailand Bets on EVs, What Will Happen to the Spent Batteries?
Thailand is accelerating its electric‑vehicle agenda, with Chinese automakers like BYD opening a 150,000‑vehicle plant and the government targeting 30 % zero‑emission vehicle production by 2030. The rapid rollout will generate roughly 200,000 tonnes of spent EV batteries by 2033 and 2.5 million tonnes...
'Green Cliffs of Dover': Port of Dover Becomes First UK Port to Reach Net Zero Emissions
The Port of Dover announced it reached net‑zero emissions for its Scope 1 and 2 activities in 2023, becoming the first UK port to do so. The milestone arrives five years before any other British port’s target and 25 years ahead of...
Australian Firms Urged to Access US$2 Billion Pacific Infrastructure Pipeline via New Austrade Platform
Austrade has launched an online Pacific Infrastructure platform that aggregates information on roughly US$2 billion worth of upcoming infrastructure projects across Pacific Island nations. The tool provides details on sectors, delivery stages, timelines and funding sources, aiming to give Australian firms...
European Industrial Leaders Aim to Accelerate Clean Hydrogen
The European Resilience Alliance for Clean Hydrogen & Derivatives (ERA) was launched in the European Parliament on April 14, bringing together 11 leading industrial CEOs to coordinate Europe’s clean‑hydrogen strategy. ERA will act as a unified voice to policymakers and align...
FCC Just Handed Netgear a De Facto Router Monopoly in the US
The FCC granted Netgear conditional approval that lifts the ban on foreign‑made consumer routers, effectively giving it a de facto monopoly on new router sales and servicing in the United States until October 1 2027. The approval covers Netgear’s Nighthawk and Orbi mesh...
Wells Moves DEX Manufacturing to Kissimmee Campus
Wells has moved its DEX® designer concrete manufacturing from Atlanta, Georgia, to its Kissimmee, Florida campus, joining a larger facility with over 200 staff. The relocation gives the DEX operation access to in‑house CNC, welding, mold building, engineering and a...