This is not only true for financial investments, but also for supply chain and logistics predictions. Like I said last year, making supply chain and logistics predictions is like throwing darts at a moving target: sometimes you get lucky and hit the mark; other times you miss the bullseye by a mile. Here’s one of my predictions for 2016 that hit the mark: Blockchain Technology Will Make Its Debut in Supply Chain Management. MORE

manufacturing output increased more than expected in December, but disruptions to the supply chain as the relentless pandemic keeps some workers at home could slow production in the months ahead. Feed fight: African consumers hit as Asia gobbles up rice supplies. supply problems. MORE

Moving on to the supply chain and logistics news that caught my attention this week… XPO Logistics to Acquire Norbert Dentressangle SA. Infor Announces Major Enhancements to Supply Chain Management. 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). MORE

Subscribe to Supply Chain Game Changer. Coronavirus Exposes Global Supply Chain Fragility! Every aspect of our lives has been disrupted: our health, freedom of movement, employment, the economy, our ability to buy goods, and virtually every Supply Chain. Apart from the panic buying are there Supply Chain lessons that we should learn from the Coronavirus pandemic to improve the robustness of Supply Chains in the future? 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. To gain a better insight into the shipping imbalance and the extent of air freight disruption, we need first to look at the situation as it now exists in China and then refocus the telescope on markets in other parts of the world. 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. This insight is much more instructive than studying changes in ships and related systems. Overcapacity has been caused by a spending spree on new ships and from the slowdown in global trade. 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. Japan wants manufacturing back from China, but breaking up supply chains is hard to do. Sugar shipping rush in Brazil amid COVID surge causes huge vessel logjam. bln in Hong Kong secondary listing -sources. Rhine water level rises but still too for normal shipping. MORE