The need to know
The need to know for the week ending 29th January 2021
The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists
Long road for Tesla in India with infrastructure, supply chain woes
Tesla Inc is gearing up for an India launch but the U.S. electric carmaker is likely to remain a niche player for years, catering only to the rich and affluent in the world’s second-most populous nation.
Kawasaki Heavy aims to replicate LNG supply chain with hydrogen
Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries is aiming to replicate its success as a major liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker producer with hydrogen, a key element that may help decarbonize industries and aid the global energy transition.
U.S. factory activity races to more than 13-1/2-year high in early January: IHS Markit
U.S. manufacturing activity surged to its highest level in more than 13-1/2-years in early January amid strong growth in new orders, but bottlenecks in the supply chain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are driving up prices and signalling a rise in inflation in the months ahead.
Nissan to pause one UK production line on Friday due to COVID-19 supply disruption
Japan’s Nissan Motor company will pause production at one of its British production lines on Friday due to supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic, and said it expects to resume production on Monday.
First flashes of Brexit trade trouble appear in UK data
Early signs of disruption caused by Britain’s shift to its new, less open trading relationship with the European Union are emerging in economic data.
After Brexit, Ireland and France cut out the middleman - Britain
From his office overlooking Cherbourg docks, general manager Yannick Millet points to trailers destined for Ireland that belong to Amazon and FedEx, new customers and a signal of a potential big shift in post-Brexit trade.
Boohoo and ASOS feast on remnants of UK high street brands
Britain’s biggest online fashion retailers Boohoo and ASOS have swooped on collapsed Debenhams and Arcadia as the COVID-19 pandemic turbocharges the industry’s shift to digital, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.
Lawmakers push for European due diligence law on environmental, human rights
The European Parliament’s legal committee adopted a report on Wednesday calling on the European Union to legally require companies to protect human rights and the environment in their supply chains.
Britain says it will work with EU to avoid vaccine disruption
Britain will be able to work with the European Union to ensure there is no disruption to vaccine supplies, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Tuesday, arguing protectionism was not right during a pandemic.
Russia plans to produce COVID-19 vaccine storable at fridge temperatures - minister
Such a move could help Russia in the global vaccine race by making it cheaper to store and transport Sputnik V, easing the logistical challenges posed by needing a colder supply chain and making it easier for developing nations to handle.
Discount supermarket Lidl GB made £13.6 mln loss in 2019-20
The British arm of German discount supermarket Lidl on Thursday reported an after tax loss of 13.6 million pounds ($18.6 million) for its 2019-20 year, which it said reflected investment in staff, stores, logistics and its supply chain.
Indian trader group says minister pledges strict foreign investment rules for e-commerce
An India trader group representing millions of brick-and-mortar retailers on Friday said it has received government assurances that stringent changes will be made to foreign investment rules for e-commerce, a move that could hit Amazon.com Inc.
Online luxury fashion retailer Mytheresa jumps 37% in stock market debut
Mytheresa’s shares jumped more than 37% in their U.S. market debut on Thursday, giving the German online luxury fashion retailer a market value of $3.08 billion.
Amazon set to launch in Poland, shares in local Allegro fall
Online shopping platform Amazon is preparing to set up a Polish based website so local shoppers will no longer have to order via its German site, it said on Wednesday, sending shares in top local rival Allegro down by over 7%.
Grains supply to Argentine export hub normalizing after truckers strike - sources
Delivery of grains and oilseeds to Argentine export hub Rosario was slowly returning to normal on Monday after a week of protests by truckers who blocked roads leading from the farm belt to port, two industry sources told Reuters.
Brexit butchers EU trade for Scottish beef producers
Brexit has dealt a blow to Andrew Duff’s business. His burgeoning sales of high end Scottish beef to Europe are on hold because his business is too small to navigate the post-Brexit customs border for now.
Drone company Wingcopter gets more firepower in vaccine delivery race
German start-up Wingcopter has secured fresh funding to strengthen its position in the race to offer COVID-19 vaccine distribution by air, seeking to get shots into the arms of people in hard-to-reach places, it said on Monday.
Top global traders work to ease seafarer crisis due to coronavirus
Over 300 leading companies said on Tuesday they would work together to help hundreds of thousands of merchant sailors stuck on ships for many months due to COVID-19 in a crisis that risks creating more dangers at sea.
Aeva to supply lidar sensors to self-driving truck firm TuSimple
Aeva Inc, a firm founded by former Apple Inc engineers to supply a key self-driving car sensor, said on Tuesday it had reached a deal to supply the sensors for self-driving heavy duty trucks being developed by TuSimple.
Heavy industry, transport sectors to align on net-zero climate plans
Over 400 companies across some of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitting industries – from shipping to steelmaking - have agreed to work together on plans to decarbonize by 2050, according to a coalition of climate advocacy groups that set up the partnership.
From elsewhere around the web:
Pandemic parcel dynamics drive a new shipper hierarchy[Supply Chain Dive]
Container trade 'madness' driving more Asia cargo to other modes[The Loadstar]
Maritime industry signs new global pledge to end crew change crisis[Port Technology]
Bringg’s collaboration with Uber opens new doors for e-commerce[Freight Waves]
Top 5 Trends to Watch in Ocean Ports[SDC Exec]
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