Reluctant Support for Extended Iran Deployment, Questioning CENTCOM Funding
For the record, I’m not thrilled about this whole Iran thing. I was in the camp of bulldozing @CENTCOM to fund moving @Southcom back to the Panama Canal. But if we must be there a few weeks longer… maybe… just maybe…. What do you think? https://t.co/wh1rNhpeQm
China's Navy Built for Global Commerce Defense, Gulf Escort Possible
Everyone has always wondered what the PLAN (Chinese Navy) was configured for. We may see this come to fruition if they send a squadron to the Persian Gulf to escort their ships. The PLAN is perfectly sized and...
Beyond Oil: Gulf War Shook Global Container Trade
If you thought oil and energy was the only thing impacted by the Gulf War, hang on to your containers.
Royal Navy's Mediterranean Failure Mocked by Royal Irony
Everyone’s shocked the Royal Navy can’t get a warship to the Mediterranean, let alone the Persian Gulf. But remember, King Charles also commands Canada’s Royal Navy. Surely he can dispatch her broken subs and battle kayaks for backup. https://t.co/Yo6gQLLxR6
Supply Exists, But Delivery Bottlenecks Threaten Gulf Imports
Technically, yes @SecretaryWright. But if the oil and natural gas can't get from the suppliers to the consumers it doesn't really matter to those who rely on imports from the Persian Gulf
U.S. Public Backing International Trade Hits Record High
American support for international trade is at an all-time high (and, no, not just among Democrats) https://t.co/QayxCkWNFn
Singapore’s Oil Anchor Hub Threatened, Hormuz Gains Crucial Role
Everybody is watching the Strait of Hormuz, but they should also be watching Singapore. The image on the right are all the laden tankers sitting in an around Simgapore. The one in the left, with less ships, are loaded Very...
High‑Stakes Billionaire Competition Resurfaces Amid Hormuz Crisis
For those who want an overview without watching my full hour+ long video on the Strait of Hormuz Crisis https://t.co/QDALtGFKiC
U.S. DFC Launches $20 Bn Gulf Maritime Reinsurance Plan
"U.S. DFC unveils $20BN plan for maritime reinsurance in the Gulf" The CEO of the DFC looks like someone who would sell you $20B worth of insurance. https://t.co/QRhFuzBtx0 https://t.co/0v78TH7CKl
Floating 100M Barrels Fill Hormuz‑Malacca Gap
If you are not following @TankerTrackers you dont understand the tanker situation. Look at the gap forming between the Strait of Hormuz and Strait of Malacca. Now there is also about 100M barrels of fuel afloat in and around Singapore and...
Iran's Jask Loading Marks Strategic Shift Beyond Gulf
So, Iran loading at Jask is significant as it is outside the Gulf and right on the Gulf of Oman. H/T @TankerTrackers https://t.co/LiGn8YEVqW
Britain's Strategic Retreat Hands China Global Footholds
We had a good thing, Britain. A really good thing. You taught us this game. Mahan studied you. We just wrote bigger checks. The deal was simple. We spend the trillions. Fight the hard wars. We even let you sit out Vietnam. And...
Global Trade Risks Rising – Freight Forwarder Launches Tomorrow
Heading home this morning from a lovely couple of days in the mountains. Friendly reminder that Freight Forwarder goes out tomorrow. Here's this past week's newsletter if you missed it. Freight Forward: Global Trade Risks Grow https://t.co/bCNXLH05QO https://t.co/Sc2FCjjfV3
One Tanker Passes; Massive Scale‑up Needed Amid Supply Backlog
Wow, one whole large tanker?! Need to up that >100-fold and just simply to return to normal. And that’s not counting the massive backlog of ships, disruptions, and durable damage to both regional infrastructure and global supply chains that will take months...
Iran Keeps Shipping Oil to China Amid Conflict
PHOTO OF THE DAY: China is still getting (some of) its oil. Nine days into the war, Iran continues loading oil supertankers from Kharg Island. Tehran has sent some of them across the Strait of Hormuz into the high seas wihthout any...
US Oil Independence Shifts Gains to Industry, Hurts Drivers
“The US is roughly speaking oil independent… on net, we export petroleum products.” That’s why this is less an ‘America is poorer’ story than an ‘Americans reshuffle who wins’ story. Oil industry wins. Drivers lose. https://t.co/Efd22aQEeK
US Beef Supply Relies Heavily on Mexican Cattle
"Texas Feedlot Operators Explain Why U.S. Beef Supply Depends on Mexican Cattle Imports" https://t.co/D3IHviRfRg https://t.co/fO9Ac9MceR
SFO Leads Diesel Prices at $5.96/gal Nationwide Map
Map of average diesel prices by market (updated each morning). SFO has the highest at $5.96/gallon https://t.co/DgH7FMrsx0
China Faces Energy Crisis as Gulf Oil Imports Halt
China imports crude oil based on the day, between 65 and 85% of its total, and about three-quarters of that comes specifically from the Persian Gulf. And that has now dropped to zero. Unlike countries like the United States, which...
Rising Diesel Costs Threaten Spot Market Carriers
Diesel prices have surged, but still below 2022 and 2008 levels. With the recent run up in spot rates, most carriers can absorb the current surges, but if it continues to surge, it could be detrimental for carriers operating in...
Tech, Not Troops, Drives Modern Military Dominance
America’s military success has never been a function of numbers of troops, it’s all about the use of advanced tech and an almost endless military supply chain
Diesel Surge Boosts Broker Margins via Fuel Surcharges
The diesel surge is welcome news for freight brokers that have contracted freight. Fuel surcharges will provide a lot of relief, as the diesel surge is moving much quicker than trucking spot rates. Brokers will make a couple of percent on fuel...
US to Field 2,400 F‑35s, Becoming Fourth‑largest Air Force
The US is planning to build up a fleet of 2400 F-35s, which would make it the 4th largest global air force alone. https://t.co/YAnXK2vCUQ
Kuwait's Force Majeure Signals Growing Supply Chain Risk
Kuwait Declares Force Majeure Due To Middle East Conflict. A BIG force majeure. More continuing of my take that the occurrence of force majeure could become significant as the war continues. A level in the circles of supply chain hell....
Unclear Roles Fuel Conflict in Source-to-Pay Processes
“The Source-to-Pay (S2P) cycle in many orgs. is often fraught w/ internal conflict & misunderstanding. The snags usually center on lack of clarity, ineffectiveness, & poor definition of process responsibilities.” 🔗 https://t.co/gy1EdLnhmk #procurement #purchasing #supplychain https://t.co/7SDiE74WE4
Rising Fuel Costs Push Small Truckers Toward Bankruptcy
Whenever fuel surges like it has, we see a rash of small carrier bankruptcies. Large fleets and big brokers benefit from high fuel prices due to fuel surcharges, smaller truckers get creamed.
Assessing Whether the US Navy Should Seize Iranian Tankers
Should the US Navy Start Targeting & Seizing Iranian Tankers 1⃣Sea Power vs Seapower 2⃣How did the US Torpedo Global Shipping? 3⃣Convoying in the Past 4⃣Current US Naval Situation 5⃣Potential Strategy for the US H/T: @ed_fin @gCaptain @LloydsList @ianellisjones Video: https://t.co/XpwiR2J9Cb
Iran's Air War Halts Hormuz Shipping, Hits Regional Oil
Air War Against Iran Enters Week Two Iran continues to target its neighbors' oil production as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is nearly at a stand still. Latest: https://t.co/EOkyezfgoC
US Manufacturing Slows; Iraq Conflict Could Deepen Supply Chain Strain
PMI shows US manufacturing softness. That means supply chains too. What will the Iraq war do?
GSA AI Guidelines May Signal Broader Policy Shift
Could there be more to the new #AI guidelines from the US General Services Administration (GSA) than “a government-wide effort to strengthen #procurement of AI services” and mitigate #supplychain risks? Via @joemillerjr & @GeorgeNHammond @FT https://t.co/nB2mq431A9
Seizing Iranian VLCCs Could De‑Escalate Conflict
My only difference with @ed_fin strategy is this: Vice hitting an Iranian VLCC, we wait until they exit the Strait and seize, a la Venezuelan tankers. Start grabbing these ships as they come out and threaten to impound them and...
Four Seafarers Killed in Hormuz; IMO Warns Crew Risks
Four Seafarers Killed in Hormuz Attack, IMO Chief Warns of Growing Risk to Crews https://t.co/Rb5FINfXKz
Iranian Shadow Fleet and Greek Vessels Dominate Hormuz Transit
Are ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz? YES Who are they? IRANIAN & GREEK Iranian Shadow Fleet and Greek Affiliated Ships Lead Strait of Hormuz Transits https://t.co/ErnBCy9pVb
US Should Apply Venezuelan Seizure Tactics to Iranian Tankers
Okay, why is this a surprise? The Iranians have been loading at Kharg the entire time. It seems like the US could use that experience of seizing 10 Venezuelan tankers and start leveraging that capability against the 38 Iranian VLCCs.
Red Sea Tactics Resurface Against Iranian‑backed Houthis
Deja vu to the Red Sea of two years ago. We saw this same exact tactic against the Houthi. Which makes sense as the Iranians backed the Houthis.
Iran's Missile Strikes Fall, Drones Persist via China
We've seen a confirmed drop in Iran's missile attacks, but drones remain the larger LT threat. The complication that I'll be following closely is China's role. With Chinese shipments of drone components still entering Iran, the US will have to...
U.S. Sub Sinks Iranian Warship to Protect Shipping
This is the question every admiral in the Pentagon was asking early this week that the media hasn’t covered. There is outrage in anti-Trump circles after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship because it looked like an unfair fight. While weak...
UK Claims No US Aid, yet Relies on US Navy
Starmer repeatedly says Britain isn’t helping the US Navy Meanwhile his defense minister argues the UK doesn’t need to defend it’s territory because US Navy destroyers are doing it for them Why are 🇺🇸 ships protecting UK territory instead of focusing on...
Glencore Commits 2,400 T/Yr E‑waste Supply to Metallium Texas
Glencore signs a binding deal to supply 2,400 t/yr of e-waste to Metallium’s Texas plant. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/glencore-metallium-e-waste-recycling.html
Greek VLCC Charters Surge to $5.4M Weekly Record
So, when will ships transit through the Strait? When Greek shipping firms are getting paid $5.4M a week for a Very Large Crude Carrier when the charters a few week ago was for $50k/day.
War‑Driven Insurance Chaos Grounds Persian Gulf Shipping
Why are ships suddenly stuck in the Persian Gulf? Ship insurance is already a maze. Add war and it becomes a labyrinth. In 15 minutes I’m going to attempt the impossible: explain ship insurance 101, what’s happening, why ships won’t sail, and...
Hormuz Strait Moves 35% of Global Oil Trade
Hormuz carries about one-fifth of global oil supply But roughly one-third of seaborne oil trade normally pass thru the Strait The real shock is 35% of globally traded oil. Peak oil is today’s reality. #oil #energy #Hormuz #geopolitics #EnergyMarkets https://t.co/ENXgbxfCcf
Europe's Shipowners Undercut Trump, World Misjudged TDS
The world underestimated TDS and the willingness of European shipowners to deny people fuel and fertilizer to score a brief “win” over Trump.
Electrifying Sydney‑Melbourne Freight Pays Back in Under Four Years
Electrifying all road freight between Sydney and Melbourne is a no brainer: The payback is less than 4 years #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/c9lBrAwKGN https://t.co/bLDZIjZQQ5
China Funds 168 Ports, Reshaping Global Trade
China providing money to 168 ports in 90 countries. Add the very large Chinese Cosco shipping firm. China and control of global trade and international logistics. The silent trade war.
Beyond Robots: AI Needs Infrastructure, Supply Chains Evolve
Robots were the unofficial mascot of MWC this year. Meanwhile, the real conversations happening in the halls were about something much bigger: the pressure points shaping the next phase of the industry. AI that needs real infrastructure. Supply chains that are...
UK Machine Shop Slashes Cycle Times 21% in One Week
In this podcast episode, we covered how one UK machine shop used optimization tech to cut cycle times by 21% in just one week, and won back a contract from overseas, increasing profits and quality. Stream now: 🔗 https://t.co/qcr2ent2we 📽️ https://t.co/80kIXr8Tg3 https://t.co/yODH1EBpTL
Customs Can Refund Automatically, Yet Reluctantly Delay
"'Customs does have automated systems to process refunds,' said David Cohen, a partner at Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg. 'Yes, the magnitude is unprecedented, but the tariff refund process takes place routinely.'" They just don't want to do it.
CBP Easily Collects Illegal Taxes, Struggles to Refund Them
It was easy for CBP to collect the illegal taxes, but it's apparently impossible for them to return the illegal taxes (with interest). Sure, Jan. https://t.co/t3ZvGLtijs
Global Supply Chains Face Operational and Financial Risks
What would this mean to global supply chains and logistics? The risk—both operational and financial.
