Iran's Oil Stockpile Bypasses US Blockade, Sales to China Persist
My take w/ @WallStBullion on the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz: "Iran has ~180m barrels of oil floating outside the Strait. Even with the US blockade, revenue from oil sales will keep flowing into Iran. Iran will be able to continue selling oil to China until late July." https://t.co/lXXCWPi6xf
Europe Still Buying U.S. Defense Amid Domestic‑Buy Talk
Interesting detail from today’s Northrop Grumman Q1 earnings call re. European demand. Despite political messaging in Europe about buying domestically and reducing reliance on U.S. suppliers, Northrop made clear that European customers remain highly engaged buyers of American systems.
Congo's Hidden Cost Fuels Clean Energy's Dirty Secret
Clean energy has a dirty secret buried deep in the Congo. Here, The Elements of Power author Nicolas Niarchos @apostcardfromthevolcano pulls the supply chain apart link by link. Notes https://jordanharbinger.com/1315 Apple https://buff.ly/VwoPcHI Spotify https://buff.ly/FjWbpZJ Overcast https://buff.ly/VLlkVWW
U.S. Navy Boards Sanctioned Oil Tanker Safely in Indian Ocean
U.S. forces board a sanctioned oil tanker 'without incident' in the Indian Ocean Map form @Kpler https://t.co/jqhC9bZpvJ
Major US Airports Still Rely on Paper Sequencing
It’s insane that many of the busiest airports in the US still use paper for ground and flight sequencing
Factory Humanoids Ready Now; Home Robots Five Years Out
Home-based robots are about 5 years away from mass adoption ... but factory-based humanoids are ready for serious work today. Inside Factories (today; $10 an hour) --> Last-Mile Delivery (3 years; $5 an hour) --> Inside Home (5 years; $1...
China and US Fight Tightening Copper Market
A global tug of war between the SHFE (China) and the Comex (USA) for copper
US Manufacturing Set for Historic Surge Amid Defense Boom
This is massive for US manufacturing segment, increasing procurement of weapons by 85%. Defense production is already 8% of US manufacturing, this increase would represent one of the biggest increases in history. Combine this with AI buildout, energy production and infrastructure...
Brad Jacobs Explains QXO's $17B Insulation Acquisition
Brad Jacobs dropped by Odd Lots to talk with me and @tracyalloway about why his company $QXO is buying an insulation company for $17 billion. https://t.co/a9rTLDb9rs
Arkansas Lithium Reserves Offer US Independence From China
US Sen Tom Cotton on lithium development in Arkansas: "We should not be relying on Communist China for this crucial mineral."
Supply Chain Blindness Fuels Commodity Scarcity Worldwide
All the while supplies of commodities are running scarce. Neither side seems to understand or care about supply chains and the global effect.
Vance Delay Extends Ceasefire Talks, Pressures Trump
more delays on vp vance traveling to islamabad. but negotiations on core issues still proceeding, just pushes trump on extending out (or not breaching) ceasefire.
500‑Page AI Lawsuits Flood Trucking Industry This Year
You should see the 500+ page AI slop lawsuits in trucking that are all the rage this year
Diverse Storage Tech Thwarts China's Supply Chain Dominance
The sheer range of technologies for long duration storage could make it hard for China to dominate the supply chain. https://t.co/91YChhaEzP
Nations Squeezed: US Pressure vs Beijing Warning on Supply Chains
Many countries are caught in a vise: Washington wants them to strip Chinese content from their supply chains, and Beijing is warning them not to. @Lingling_Wei https://t.co/LilGzuOzlf https://t.co/LilGzuOzlf
Red Cat Lands US Air Force Black Widow Drone Contract
Red Cat Holdins $RCAT large drone win for $RCAT accdg to The US Air Force is purchasing Black Widow drones manufactured by Teal Drones (a Red Cat subsidiary) for feeding live targeting data directly to airborne F-35 fighters. https://t.co/HJrKPkG4tr
Harsh Tactics Boost Chinese Self‑reliance, Risk Western Relevance
"Every blunt instrument applied accelerates Chinese indigenization, strains allied relationships, and narrows the window in which Western equipment remains indispensable." Those advocating for MATCH Act taking narrow view, ignoring massive collateral damage. https://t.co/98q7VvFemB
Firms Caught Between US Push and China Warning
US wants China out of upstream supply chains. China warns against it. When trust of both parties is thin, what do firms do.? Geopolitics and war? Taiwan. Where and what is next? Supply chain alignment vs fluidity. Welcome to the...
Cargill Launches Operational Canola Crush Plant in Regina
Cargill's new canola crush plant at Regina is officially up and running. Chat with Cargill VP Laura Hatcher: https://t.co/NkSCSzRmDk
US Commercial Tankers Fuel Fleet, Two Stuck in Gulf
At the @NavyLeagueUS SeaAirSpace Expo 2026 listening to Stephen Carmel of @DOTMARAD talking about the crucial role of US commercial tankers from the Tanker Security Program and under charter to @MSCSealift. These tankers, which have been outfitted to conduct Consolidation Operations...
China’s Rare Earth Export Decline Exposes Deal Fragility
China. Drop in exports to the US. Rare earth minerals. What happened to the deal with China? The art of the quick “deal” meets political reality.
Critics Demand Fixes Before Expanding Flawed ACP Program
“We updated the alternative compliance program single supplement and working with the class societies and allowing more ships to be regulated under the ACP,” Captain Compher, USCG Questions aren’t allowed, or I’d ask, before we expand this program, what’s been done...
Logistics Giant Linfox Powers 16 EV Chargers, 2.3 MW
Electric vehicle uptake has spread much, much further than you'd think. This is a goEV site, for logistics heavyweight Linfox, 2.3MW total, 16 chargers. I think I'll start highlighting these cases every day, would that interest you? 📌 Laverton North (Melbourne), Australia. https://t.co/W3kj5PEXDx
China Will Undermine U.S. War Logistics, Not Fight Navy
“China knows if they go toe to toe with the US Navy they will lose. What that will do instead is attack the underpinnings, the abilitied of the U.S. military to conduct conflict at all. And that's us,” Steve Carmel,...
Coast Guard Simplifies Reflagging for Foreign Vessels
“The US Coast Guard is cutting red tape and actively streamlining the reflagging process to make it easier for foreign ships to come into the 🇺🇸 fleet,” Captain Compher, USCG https://t.co/nxZzBoFeKW
China Recognizes True Maritime Power, US Misunderstands
“Naval sea power alone is not national maritime power,” Steve Carmel, Maritime Administrator and Commandant of the US Merchant Marine. “China understands this. They are not confused, we are.” https://t.co/dhxIOJjUp8
Trump Administration Submits Comprehensive Maritime Legislation Package to Congress
“The Trump Administration has submitted a detailed list of maritime legislative proposals to congress,” Robert Andrews, War Policy Directorate, National Security Council https://t.co/02Rn5OybFn
Hormuz Status Highlights Broken Global Energy System
Is Hormuz open or closed? Neither. It's a BROKEN global energy system You can get through the strait, but not reliably, not safely, and not at scale. The disruption is structural not temporary You can reopen a strait. Not a system. 👇 https://t.co/EMhvtItEos #Hormuz #OilMarkets #Shipping...
Three Vessels, Including Iranian Ship, Attempt Hormuz Passage
Three Ships Including an Iranian Vessel Attempt Hormuz Transits. Two cargo ships and a tanker. https://t.co/IsqvgCzJb8
Robots Take Hazardous Tasks, Humans Shift to Supervision
Robotics is entering hazardous operations as a structured component of industrial execution, not as isolated automation. Safety targets and workforce gaps push organizations to redesign processes so machines handle exposure and people move toward supervision Microblog @antgrasso https://t.co/4JNVQLCk47
Asian Empty Tankers Queue up From Cape to Gulf
Empty tankers mainly from Asia form long lines from Cape of Good Hope to US Gulf Coast. Find out more in the Chartbook Top Links today. https://t.co/otCxFTFsEp
Maritime: The Untapped Frontier Amid Trump’s
Case made for maritime as the last great uninvested industry. Is Trump creating a new trade, supply chain, and maritime world scenario with his reactionary transactions? https://t.co/GHcSYLFqmF
Truckload Spot Rates Surge to Cycle High, Diesel Drop Irrelevant
Truckload spot rates hit new cycle high on the daily at $3.22/mile, the highest levels since early March 2022. A week ago, daily truckload rates were at $3.07/mile. Spot rates are cooking despite diesel costs cooling, proof that the surge...
Trump Claims Blockade Gives Total Control of Strait
“I think we’re in a very strong negotiating position… the blockade has been a tremendous success. We totally control the Strait.” President Trump on @CNBC
Trump Exempts Indian iPhones, Taxes Chinese Ones Heavily
"Tim would call me, but never too much, and I would help him where I could." My CHARTS illustrate one example Though Trump put 20% tariffs in March 2025 on iPhones made in China, he EXEMPTED iPhones made in India...
Schrödinger's Strait: Is the Hormuz Passage Open or Closed?
Schrödinger's Strait: Is It Open or Closed | Week 7 Strait of Hormuz Recap (April 12 to 19) 🚨This video was filmed prior to the US seizure of Touska on April 19🚨 https://t.co/S1MyLGxu6t
Shift From Supply Chain to Value Chain Mindset
Read the latest edition of the Art of Supply newsletter: From Supply Chain to Value Chain: Rethinking the ‘Why’ https://t.co/HdKDwFa0Xg https://t.co/qzsCnwojh1
Supply Chain Digitalisation Fails when You Never Start
The biggest risk in supply chain digitalisation isn't picking the wrong technology. It's not starting at all. Davy Baars from @ConnectedLoadCarrier on what actually needs to happen before the first sensor is installed 🎧 https://t.co/DBWWiDVpOg
US Navy Seizes Sanctioned Iranian Oil Smuggler in Asian Waters
JUST IN: US military seized a sanctioned oil vessel smuggling Iranian crude in Asian waters.
War Cuts 1bn Barrels, Threatening Recession if Hormuz Stays Closed
Oil market has experienced a loss of 1 billion barrels due to war, says Trafigura’s Rahim. Oil markets are one month away from tank bottoms AND a recession is possible if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for three more months,...
US Redirects Fertilizer Overseas Amid Iran War Price Surge
Uh oh: "US buyers redirect imported fertilizer overseas as Iran war drives up global prices" https://t.co/bQZvdTkA8z https://t.co/4gCpKe44yx
Returns Evolve Into Front‑Line Profit Strategy
Retail is at a pivotal moment: returns are no longer a backroom headache. They’re a front-line retail strategy. Deborah Dull and I hosted a terrific conversation on Supply Chain Now that featured long-time leaders from the retail world that unpacked...
Hormuz Crisis Drives Coal Surge, Lifts Dry Bulk Rates
Dry bulk freight rates poised to rise as Hormuz crisis bolsters coal demand ▶️A substitution effect could occur where power plants burn more coal instead of crude oil products or gas to mitigate rising costs ▶️One industry player expects dry bulk freight...
Iranian Shadow Fleet Sends Over 20 Ships Past US Blockade
At least 26 Iranian shadow fleet vessels bypass US blockade ▶️More than 10 vessels have transited past the US blockade line since the terms were expanded last week ▶️Eleven tankers laden with Iranian cargo have left the Gulf of Oman or Middle...
Canadian Steel Prices 40% Below U.S., Fully Disconnected
"Canadian [steel] pricing has 'completely disconnected' from the U.S., running at a '40% discount to U.S. pricing,'" 👀 https://t.co/RxOI4R1JE5 https://t.co/lMrgt4UWO4
US Navy Boards Sanctioned Tanker Tifani in INDOPACOM
The tanker MT TIFANI was boarded by US forces. The tanker has a questionable history. The boarding was staged from a @MSCSealift ESB, probably USS Miguel Keith.
Ukraine Drone Strikes Force Russia to Cut April Oil Output
April 21 (Reuters) - Russia was forced to reduce oil output in April due to Ukrainian drone attacks on ports and refineries, as well as a halt to crude supplies via the only remaining Russian oil pipeline to Europe, according...
Oil Shocks Barely Dent Global Manufacturing and Supply Chains
Oil shocks get sensationalized, but things don't look bad in global manufacturing. In fact, this shock barely registers in global supply chains. I'll move my posts behind a paywall in coming months, please consider signing up now to lock in...
Trump's Peace Board Negotiates Gaza Rebuild with DP World
Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ holds talks with DP World on rebuilding Gaza, FT says https://t.co/3sx4Z14CRk
Condom Prices Set to Jump 20‑30% Amid Petrochemical Shock
The world’s top condom maker says it plans to raise prices by 20%-30% and possibly further due to the impact of the US-Iran war in the petrochemical industry. Malaysia's Karex Bhd told Reuters is also seeing a surge in condom...