The answers to those questions and more could significantly impact supply chain strategies, everything from sourcing decisions to network design, which is why my prediction from two years ago — that more companies will start treating Supply Chain Design as a continuous business process — is now a critical necessity. Russia, Iran, North Korea, and ISIS : Call them “The Unpredictables” (you can probably add China to the mix too). MORE

Chinese carriers are increasingly using these platforms to consolidate LTL loads, driving more effective shipping. Given China’s fragmented trucking market and heavily tolled road infrastructure, platforms introducing more cost-effective shipping should become even more popular. On February 15th, 2016, the first freight train from China reached the capital of Iran, shaving 30 days off the standard port-to-port transport time. Image Source: Brics-Info.org. MORE

Commerce Department on Thursday issued interim rules aimed at the securing the nation’s communication and technology supply chain that would prohibit certain transactions with Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea and Cuba. The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists. MORE

Ports See Costly Delays as Cargo Ships, Volumes Grow (WSJ – sub. US Navy to accompany US-flagged ships in Persian Gulf after Iran seizes vessel (Fox News). As a result, loading efficiencies are improved at both shipping origin and all destinations. My wife and I visited my fourth grade son’s class this morning to see the work they’ve done the past few weeks. MORE

And with less manufacturing output there were fewer container ships leaving Asia full of goods meaning activity in ports in North America and Europe would slow down rather quickly. Iran and Spain were highly infected. Borders were closed, air travel curtailed if not suspended outright, cruise ships were quarantined, tourism plummeted, restaurants and theatres were closed, and entertainment and sporting events and leagues were cancelled. Subscribe Here! Email Address. MORE

The huge build-up of containers at China’s docks has created a major ocean freight imbalance, with a shortage of cargo in US and European ports and a shortfall in boxes needed by Western exporters to ship products to other parts of the world. MORE

Number of draw-texturing spindles and shuttle-less looms that were shipped increased by 23% and 13%. Most of the new short-staple spindles (95%) are shipped to Asia. Deliveries to Iran soars by 445% from 11,000 in 2016 to 59,000 in 2017. Other interesting fact 30% of long-staple spindles go to Europe while the majority are shipped to China (68%). Source of some data: just-style.com). With a population of over than 1.4 MORE

Check out our roundup of nearly 100 digital logistics/supply chain sources. SPECIAL FEATURE: FIVE TRENDS TO SHAPE THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY. First up, no surprises, China slowdown and depressed commodity prices, then the lifting of sanctions on Iran. Shipping is a servant of trade, and trade is driven by consumer behaviour, so understanding how economies develop, evolve and plan for change brings valuable insight of what the maritime sector will look like over the coming decade. MORE

At this time of the year, Deng Jinling would normally be welcoming foreign buyers to her vacuum flask showroom or cramming her goods into containers to be shipped to customers in the United States. Sugar shipping rush in Brazil amid COVID surge causes huge vessel logjam. MORE