The need to know
The need to know for the week ending 23rd July 2021
The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists
'Pingdemic': English businesses buckle under COVID-19 isolation demands
England's car plants, railways, supermarkets and pubs warned the government on Monday that a COVID-19 tracing app, which has told hundreds of thousands of workers to isolate, was wrecking the recovery and pushing supply chains to the brink of collapse.
Swedish duo flag lingering supply-chain freeze
Swedish industrial duo Volvo (VOLVb.ST) and Electrolux (ELUXb.ST) are a microcosm for the state of the global economy. Both groups face soaring demand for their products, which respectively include trucks and fridges, but they’re struggling to capitalise on it.
Coca-Cola leans on early pandemic lessons to prepare for Delta variant hit
Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) will rely on its pandemic-tested strategy of focusing on bigger brands and doubling down on its supply chain to combat a potential impact from the Delta variant of the coronavirus, its finance chief said on Wednesday.
DHL aims to deploy longer distance drones to beat stretched supply lines
Logistics giant DHL is working with Bulgarian aircraft developer Dronamics on rolling out cross-border and inter-city drones aimed at overcoming strained supply chains, executives involved say.
SOS: Stranded and shattered seafarers threaten global supply lines
"I've seen grown men cry," says Captain Tejinder Singh, who hasn't set foot on dry land in more than seven months and isn't sure when he'll go home.
Small miners aim for European supply chain for electric vehicles independent from China
Growing demand for electric vehicles has spurred small-scale miners of the lithium, cobalt and rare earths that automakers rely on to develop mines and build refining capacity in Europe to reduce their reliance on China.
U.S. officials look to address transportation supply chain issues
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is looking at ways to address supply chain disruptions - from clogged ports to addressing the shortage of truck drivers.
Rhine river partially closed in Germany to shipping by floodwaters
Parts of the river Rhine in south Germany remained closed to shipping on Monday after a rise in water levels following recent torrential rain, German authorities said.
Thyssenkrupp affected by supply chain disruptions due to floods
Thyssenkrupp is affected by supply chain disruptions at its suppliers, clients and logistics partners due to the floods that have hit western Germany, it said on Tuesday
Running low on battery power: Brexit Britain faces an acid test
Britain has set a fast pace in the electric vehicle race with its 2030 ban on sales of new fossil fuel-powered cars and has offered 1 billion pounds ($1.4 billion) to jump start its battery industry and associated supply chain.
Electrolux braces for more disruptions from global supply chain squeeze
Europe’s biggest home appliances maker, Electrolux, reported earnings above pre-pandemic levels on Tuesday but saw its shares slump 9% after it warned of worsening component supply problems in coming months.
U.S. import prices rise solidly in June
U.S. import prices increased solidly in June as bottlenecks in the global supply chain persisted, the latest indication that inflation could remain elevated for a while amid strong domestic demand fueled by the economy's reopening and fiscal stimulus.
TSMC chairman says nobody wants war over Taiwan as chip supplies too valuable
Nobody wants to see a war over Taiwan because nobody wants to disrupt the crucial global supply chain of semiconductors, the chairman of major chipmaker TSMC said on Thursday, in unusually direct comments about geopolitics.
Amazon-backed Rivian to delay first EV deliveries until September
Amazon.com Inc-backed (AMZN.O) electric-vehicle startup Rivian Automotive will delay the deliveries of its debut vehicle by more than a month due to supply chain issues, according to a letter written by its CEO to customers.
Oman logistics group Asyad looks abroad for possible expansion
Oman's state-owned Asyad is considering buying ports and terminals abroad and could divest assets outside its core logistics business, such as a college and project management operation, its chief executive said on Thursday.
FedEx to invest $100 mln in Indian logistics firm Delhivery
FedEx Corp will make a $100-million equity investment in Indian e-commerce logistics startup Delhivery as part of a long-term commercial agreement, the U.S. delivery firm said on Friday.
UK plans to ease truck driver rules to address shortage
Britain announced plans on Tuesday to attract more truck drivers and simplify training in a bid to address a chronic shortage in the haulage industry which companies have warned could damage supply chains and lead to some food shortages.
UK-based Segro to sell six Italian warehouses to cash in on ecommerce boom
Britain’s Segro Plc said on Friday it was selling six warehouses in Italy for 127.5 million euros ($150.5 million), capitalizing off a pandemic-led boom in e-commerce sales that saw huge volumes of shipments across the world.
Quick-delivery retail startup Jokr raises $170 million from investors
German e-commerce pioneer Ralf Wenzel's quick-delivery retail platform Jokr, which has gone live in seven countries since launching barely four months ago, said on Tuesday it had raised $170 million from investors to power growth.
Royal Mail UK parcel volumes fall, outlook uncertain as COVID-19 curbs ease
Royal Mail Plc said Britons are having fewer parcels delivered to their homes as pandemic curbs are lifted and it withheld from offering an annual outlook for its UK business due to COVID-19 uncertainties, sending shares down 2% to two-month lows.
ABB buys Spanish robot maker in automation push
ABB has bought Spanish robot maker ASTI Mobile Robotics Group in the Swiss engineering company’s latest move to diversify its robotics business beyond its traditional automotive base.
Aurora could be biggest fish in a faraway pond
How soon is later? Aurora, a self-driving firm, is going public by merging with a special purpose acquisition firm in a deal that values it at $13 billion, a premium to rivals.
From elsewhere around the web:
Frito-Lay bucks the trend of supply chain simplification [Supply Chain Dive]
Supply-Chain Executives See Long Road Ahead for Diversity Efforts. [Wall Street Journal]
UK launches plan to cut shipping carbon emissions [Port Technology]
'Haulier supermarket' puts drivers on right side of supply and demand equation [The Loadstar]
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