The need to know
The need to know for the week ending 29th April 2022
The need to know from Reuters’ global network of journalists
Analysis: U.S. trucking downturn foreshadows possible economic gloom
Craig Fuller monitors millions of transactions between U.S. truckers and their customers as chief executive of transportation data company FreightWaves - and he does not like what he is seeing.
Britain scraps plans for post-Brexit import controls
Britain on Thursday said it would no longer impose post-Brexit import controls on goods coming from the European Union this year, saying retailers were already facing enough pressures and it did not want to risk higher prices.
Global inflation to stay stubbornly high as wrecked supply chains persist: Reuters poll
The global streak of high inflation is far from over and aggressive monetary policy tightening will fall short in taming price pressures to mandated levels as broken supply chains are unlikely to mend anytime soon, Reuters polls showed.
How is the war in Ukraine affecting global trade and international supply chains?
Only a few months ago, international trade experts were hopeful that the worst of the pandemic’s supply-chain issues were over and that some stability could be restored to the international trade system in 2022.
Maersk says shipping boom will stabilise in H2, revises up profit guidance
Shipping group Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), often seen as a barometer for global trade, on Tuesday cautioned the container market may normalize in the second half of the year, even as it raised full-year guidance driven by high container freight rates.
U.S. logistics firm GXO aims to increase sales in Germany
The world's largest contract logistics provider, U.S.-based GXO (GXO.N), said on Wednesday it hoped to significantly increase its share of sales in Germany over the next five years with warehouse-related services in Europe's largest economy.
Major French unions: current pay rise offer in logistics sector is unacceptable
Major French trade unions said in a joint statement on Friday that a proposed pay rise for workers in the logistics sector was “unacceptable” and that they had ended wage talks on the topic.
Ad group WPP moves into logistics with e-commerce arm Everymile
WPP (WPP.L), the world's largest advertising company, has launched an end-to-end e-commerce platform to handle the logistics and delivery of products sold by its clients, after it helped them grow online sales through the pandemic.
UPS shares fall as consumer caution dims e-commerce outlook
United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) on Tuesday reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings but shares fell as much as 4.6% after executives said they expect e-commerce delivery growth to cool.
Philips shares slide as supply chain woes, ventilator issues persist
Philips (PHG.AS) shares dropped almost 11% on Monday as the Dutch health technology company expanded a recall of ventilators and flagged multiple risks to its growth outlook for the rest of the year.
GE shares slump as worsening supply chain, inflationary woes pressure profit
General Electric Co (GE.N) on Tuesday said fresh COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns in China as well as the war in Ukraine have exacerbated supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressure, putting its full-year profit outlook at risk and prompting a sell-off in its shares.
Wine trade faces supply chain, war fallout after record year -OIV
Supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine could curb global wine trade after it rebounded last year to a record level as countries eased coronavirus-related restrictions, international wine body OIV said on Wednesday.
Supply chain woes aggravated by China logistics, says Airbus CEO
Airbus (AIR.PA) is stepping up monitoring of its Chinese supply chain after increased disruption resulting from recent pandemic lockdowns, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said on Thursday.
AB Volvo profit shines, supply chain troubles hit truck orders
Swedish truck maker AB Volvo (VOLVb.ST) reported a surprise rise in first-quarter core earnings on Friday, as it juggled strong market demand with a strained supply chain that has limited its capacity to keep up with orders.
Pricey models help GM outrace first-quarter supply chain snarls
General Motors Co's (GM.N) first-quarter profit beat analyst estimates on Tuesday, as the automaker focused on sales of more expensive models with higher margins, even with production still limited by chip shortages and supply chain disruptions.
From elsewhere around the web:
Maersk Q1 revenues total almost $20 billion. [Port Technology]
Shanghai's Strict Lockdown Felt Worldwide. [SDC Exec]
Amazon dips toe in 3rd-party delivery waters with Buy with Prime. [FreightWaves]
Carriers roll out more blank sailings in a bid to underpin slide in spot rates. [The Loadstar]
Shippers press regulators to intervene as rail service challenges mount. [Supply Chain Dive]