The need to know
The need to know for the week ending 11th February 2022
The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists
Canada trucker blockade poses risk to supply chain, auto industry -White House
The Canadian truckers blockade is posing a risk to the auto industry's supply chain and U.S. officials were in close touch with their counterparts in Canada on the issue, the White House said on Wednesday.
UK and South Korea to sign deal to strengthen supply chains
Britain and South Korea will on Monday sign an agreement to reinforce pandemic-damaged supply lines for key products like semiconductors, with trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan due to host her counterpart Yeo Han-koo in London.
Top European shippers warn freight costs to stay high
Two top European shippers warned on Wednesday freight costs were likely to remain high well into this year, offering no relief to customers including the world's biggest retailers, though they said bottlenecks should ease later in the year.
UK retailers cut $10 billion of contracts from unethical suppliers - Barclays
British retailers have cancelled 7.1 billion pounds ($9.6 billion) in contracts over the last 12 months with suppliers that do not meet their ethical and sustainability standards, according to a report from Barclays Corporate Banking.
China's 'zero-COVID' curbs may hurt global growth, says BOJ policymaker
China's "zero-COVID" restrictions could weigh on world growth by prolonging supply chain disruptions and global inflationary pressures, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, warning of the broadening fallout from rising Omicron variant cases.
Kellogg's labour strike to eat into margins as supply woes mount
A nearly three-month long labour strike at Kellogg's (K.N) U.S. cereal plants is expected to dent profit margins already under pressure from steep costs driven by global supply logjams.
German industrial output falls in December
German industrial production dipped in December, official data showed on Monday, as supply chain bottlenecks and a drop in construction hampered Europe's largest economy at the end of last year.
FedEx eyes freighter order as e-commerce soars
FedEx Corp (FDX.N) is in talks with Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (AIR.PA) to buy next-generation freighters as e-commerce soars, but the delivery giant has postponed a buying decision amid ongoing labour talks with pilots, industry sources said.
Siemens deal to sell its logistics business 'imminent' -sources
Siemens (SIEGn.DE) is very close to selling its logistics business, sources have told Reuters, with a deal likely to be "imminent".
Shipping news makes grim reading for central banks
Denmark’s shipping magnates are on a different wavelength to central bankers. A.P. Moller-Maersk and DSV, two of the biggest names in global logistics, on Wednesday predicted another bumper year of profits due to continued backlogs in ports and other bottlenecks
Explainer: Why should shipping come under the EU's carbon trading system?
The European Commission has proposed adding shipping to the bloc's carbon market for the first time, in a move that is set to shake up the industry after years of avoiding pollution charges by the bloc.
Hapag Lloyd sees freight pressure easing from Q2
German shipping company Hapag Lloyd expects delivery bottlenecks and high prices for container freight to start easing in the second quarter, its chief executive said.
Toyota says trucking protests force cuts to Canadian production
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Wednesday it did not expect its auto plants in Ontario to produce vehicles for the rest of the week, because of supply problems stemming from COVID-19 trucking protests and other factors.
Embark gives self-driving truck to carrier Knight-Swift in pilot program
Self-driving truck company Embark Technology Inc (EMBK.O) on Tuesday said it was handing over a few of its trucks to Knight-Swift (KNX.N), in what the companies called the first instance of a carrier owning and operating autonomous trucks as part of its fleet
Volkswagen does not see chip shortage ending this year - Automobilwoche
Volkswagen does not expect the global shortage of semiconductors to end this year although it should further ease slightly in the second half, a board member was quoted as saying by industry magazine Automobilwoche.
From elsewhere around the web:
Food suppliers wade into logistics as trucking rates soar [Supply Chain Dive]
Maersk acquires Pilot Freight Services [Port Technology]
'Cracks' appear in Asia-Europe rates over uncertain outlook [The Loadstar]