Last week, Hurricane Milton, a powerful and unpredictable storm, wreaked havoc in multiple regions, causing widespread damage and disruption. As the Southeast continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, the arrival of this storm has sent ripples through the already fragile supply chain. From production facilities to shipping routes, businesses and consumers alike are feeling... Read more »
After midnight on October 1, the port workers from The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) launched a strike, effectively halting operations at key ports stretching from Maine to Texas. This work stoppage follows months of tense negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents the shipping ports. Unfortunately, the inability of both sides to... Read more »
Currently there are ongoing negotiations between the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) which may halt operations due to a potential strike on October 1st. According to Supply Chain Dive News, in June the ILA canceled a planned meeting with USMX due to the use of automated truck... Read more »
A combination of shipping delays due to the ongoing issues with the major shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Panama canal, compounded by several force majeure announcements from global manufacturers, have caused a trickle down effect of supply disruptions that could impact your business. With one of the supply interruptions being a key syngas... Read more »
In recent years, Mexico has faced a significant challenge in combating fuel theft, leading to substantial economic losses and environmental hazards. To address this issue, The Mexican Ministry of Energy (SENER) and Ministry of Economy published a modified agreement on October 23, 2023 “prohibiting importation into Mexico of 68 tariff categories of petroleum products, including... Read more »
At a time of year when transportation and freight are already pressed, the possibility of a major rail strike threatens to further disrupt the US economy. In September, a tentative agreement was made between rail companies and unions, temporarily preventing a strike. Now it appears that a strike may be imminent next month. Contract negotiations... Read more »
The global supply chain has taken many blows over the last three years. Today, it faces yet another strain – a drought on the Mississippi River. A major US transportation hub, the Mississippi is the second longest river in the United States, covering more than 2,300 miles. In addition, its tributaries run through 32... Read more »
US rail workers could be headed for a nationwide strike if an agreement is not reached within days, which could be a devastating blow to the economy and manufacturing. Union members voted in July to strike, seeking better quality-of-life provisions in their contracts. These provisions center around attendance policies and vacation and sick days. ... Read more »
While the Russian invasion of Ukraine has largely fallen from the daily headlines, the economic effects of the conflict are still being felt worldwide. Prior to the conflict, the European Union (EU) imported 40% of its natural gas from Russia, with Germany as their largest consumer. Nearly 1/3 of Germany’s natural gas was supplied by... Read more »
The supply chain is bracing for yet another strain or break, as California’s controversial “AB5” legislation takes full effect this month. AB5 is California Assembly Bill 5, which was passed at the end of 2019 and technically went into law on January 1, 2020. The bill was designed to regulate companies like Lyft, Uber and... Read more »
