The need to know
The need to know for the week ending 6th November 2020
The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists
Lack of passenger flights squeezes air freight capacity in peak season
A sharp fall in passenger flights due to the coronavirus pandemic combined with rising e-commerce demand is setting the stage for tight capacity and a renewed rise in air freight rates heading into the peak Christmas season.
Coupa buys supply chain software firm LLamasoft for $1.5 billion
Coupa Software Inc COUP.O said on Monday it acquired supply chain software firm LLamasoft for about $1.5 billion to strengthen its payment management platform, which helps manage expenses.
Walmart unit Sam's Club partners with DoorDash to deliver medicines
Warehouse chain Sam’s Club, a unit of Walmart Inc, said on Friday it will provide prescribed medicines to patients through delivery firm DoorDash Inc, as customers turn to digital orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Logistics firm Wincanton forecasts strong outlook on online grocery boost
Logistics company Wincanton WIN.L on Thursday resumed dividends and said it expects annual results to be ahead of market expectations, as a surge in online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic boosted its business.
Amazon sees pandemic boosting holiday sales and investment in delivery
Amazon.com Inc AMZN.O on Thursday forecast a jump in holiday sales - and costs related to COVID-19 - as consumers continued to shop more online during the pandemic.
M&S slides to first loss as coronavirus hammers clothing sales
Britain’s Marks & Spencer reported the first loss in its 94 years as a publicly listed company after clothing sales were hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but an encouraging performance in food sent its battered shares higher.
IKEA owner readies for second wave after stay-at-home shoppers boost profits
Profits at the IKEA furniture brand’s owner grew in the 12 months through August as shoppers kept at home by the pandemic spent money saved by not going on holiday on furnishing, and September and October sales rose.
Clorox raises forecast after best sales jump in over 20 years
Clorox Co CLX.N reported its strongest quarterly sales growth in more than two decades on Monday and raised its full-year revenue forecast as coronavirus-driven hygiene needs escalated demand for everything from its disinfectants to water filters.
Alibaba beats quarterly sales estimates on e-commerce strength
China’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd beat estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, as its core e-commerce business continued to grow following China’s emergence from coronavirus lockdowns.
Breakingviews - Chinese tech giants take proxy war to New York
Alibaba, JD.com, and Tencent are launching a proxy war in New York. Jack Ma’s behemoth may be mulling a $300 million investment in U.S.-listed online fashion retailer Farfetch, which is also backed by the two other technology giants.
French supermarkets to face same lockdown limits as small shops: minister
French supermarkets will face the same limits on selling non-essential goods as small shops but shopowners are not allowed to challenge government’s new COVID lockdown rules, the finance minister said.
First wave of ships explore green hydrogen as route to net zero
Developers across the world are for the first time testing the use of hydrogen to power ships as the maritime industry races to find technologies to cut emissions and confidence grows the fuel is safe to use commercially.
Brazil-bound U.S. soybean vessel loading at Gulf Coast terminal: Southport shipping lineup
A U.S. grain export terminal near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is loading about 38,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans on a bulk cargo vessel for shipment to Brazil, according to a Southport Agencies shipping lineup seen by Reuters.
Thai exports may drop 7% this year - shippers association
Thailand’s exports may drop by 7% this year, an improvement on the 8-10% drop projected earlier and helped by a gradual recovery in global demand, but a strong baht remains a concern, the Thai shipping association said on Tuesday.
From elsewhere around the web
Taiwan’s Digital Minister Knows How to Crush Covid-19: Trust[Wired]
Walmart ends contract with robotics company, opts for human workers instead, report says[CNBC]
New UK lockdown adds to pressure on transport firms training for post-Brexit[The Loadstar]
Boxships would benefit from Biden win according to analysis[Port Technology]
Compliance During COVID-19: Assessing Risk in the Supply Chain[SDC Executive]
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