AGP Executive Report

Contract Logistics Deal: CMA CGM agreed to buy FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4B, nearly tripling CEVA’s North American footprint and adding about 10,000 employees and a large warehouse network, with the combined operation targeting scale against top 3PLs. Energy Storage & Grid Reliability: Aboitiz Power broke ground on a 60MW (expandable to 120MW) battery energy storage system in Cebu’s Naga area to stabilize Visayas power, while Portugal moves to expand household solar-plus-battery support via an updated E-Home scheme. Shipping Security: Iran warned oil tankers to follow approved routes through the Strait of Hormuz or face “forceful response,” as the region’s shipping risk keeps traders and logistics planners on edge. Warehousing Safety & Community Impact: Boyle Heights residents plan to rally to demand the permanent closure of a fire-damaged Lineage Logistics cold-storage warehouse, citing ongoing health and environmental concerns. Leadership & Operations: Saddle Creek Logistics named Grady Martin as its new CEO effective July 1, continuing a planned leadership transition. Rail Costs: Finland’s Nurminen Logistics flagged up to €5m net sales impact from Russia’s tariff hikes and border crossing suspensions affecting rail cargo flows. Local Logistics Expansion: ID Logistics will invest $83M and create 1,000 jobs in Henrico, Virginia, for a hazardous materials distribution facility.

Port & Trade Infrastructure: Ceva Logistics opened a 37,000 sq m Perth hub, adding bonded services plus solar, battery storage and EV charging to support growing WA demand. Pharma Logistics: Geodis earned IATA CEIV Pharma certification for its Hyderabad site, strengthening temperature-controlled healthcare handling. Shipping & Sanctions: Bloomberg reports Russia’s shadow fleet is being replenished with the LNG tanker Arctic Express, docked at sanctioned storage in Murmansk. Middle East Freight Watch: Industry expects Strait of Hormuz costs to ease gradually after a US-Iran de-escalation deal, though volumes remain far below normal. Cold Chain & Food Safety: A Pennsylvania restaurant inspection roundup flagged issues like missing soap and improper storage practices. Procurement Digitization: Amazon Business Australia expands business pricing, analytics, single sign-on and “punch out,” aiming to cut procurement costs with fast delivery options. Energy Storage for Logistics: Vopak completed its Green Energy Storage acquisition and approved a Netherlands 200 MW/800 MWh project, targeting grid balancing and congestion reduction. Oman Trade Corridor: Asyad Shipping secured government support to subsidize fuel and insurance for eligible India-Oman food cargoes.

CMA CGM Dealmaking: CMA CGM is moving deeper into contract logistics, agreeing to buy FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4B and naming former FedEx executive Patrick Moebel to lead Ceva Logistics as the combined network scales in North America. Healthcare Cold Chain: UPS is investing $48M in 27 temperature-controlled cross-dock facilities to speed pharma handoffs between air and ground and support cold-chain value-added services. Maritime Policy Pressure: Top House Republicans want the Jones Act waiver tied to Hormuz-linked fuel costs to expire Aug. 16, arguing the emergency has passed and pushing back on foreign-flag shipping flexibility. EU Import Rules: The EU starts charging a temporary €3 duty on low-value parcels (150 euros or less), targeting a loophole that let many cheap online imports enter without duties. Middle East Shipping Risk: Iran-linked reporting claims a containership ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz outside Iran’s designated route, underscoring how routing and fees remain flashpoints. Warehousing Automation & Storage: New coverage highlights the shift from manual to autonomous storage operations and the rise of “control plane” style automation for managing hybrid cloud and AI-driven storage needs.

M&A Watch: CMA CGM is nearing a $1.4bn cash deal to buy FedEx’s third-party logistics unit, a move that would deepen its US supply-chain footprint and likely pair FedEx air cargo with CMA CGM scale. Policy & Costs: Nigeria’s Green Tax kicks in July 1, with maritime, logistics and auto stakeholders warning it could raise import and port-related costs and hit trade competitiveness. Port Operations: Ghana shippers say delayed container moves from Meridian Port Services Terminal 3 to inland depots are tying up cargo and driving demurrage and rent costs. Shipping Security: South Korea says only two Korean vessels remain in the Strait of Hormuz, shifting focus to safety and crew management as repairs and cargo timelines play out. Trade Infrastructure: Duisport CEO says China-Europe Railway Express is now a scheduled multimodal logistics backbone, with multiple trains passing daily via Duisburg. EU Customs: A new €3 customs charge starts today for many low-value online orders into the Canaries, affecting AliExpress, Temu and Shein shipments. Automation in Fulfilment: Footasylum is rolling out 85 AutoStore R5 robots to automate warehouse storage and speed e-commerce picking. Energy & Shipping Decarb: MarineFifty plans up to €11m to back Danish Kvasir Technologies to scale a drop-in bio-oil route for ships. Geopolitics & Logistics: Ukraine reports strikes that disrupt Russian logistics crossings, including a road bridge on the Donetsk–Mariupol route.

Strait of Hormuz Fees Clash: Iran and Oman are at odds over how the Strait should be governed, with Oman backing “special service fees” that ships can avoid, while Iran wants every vessel to pay—raising fresh uncertainty for shipping schedules and costs. Energy & Shipping Markets: Oil slid as Hormuz traffic improved on hopes for US-Iran talks, but analysts warned a potential glut if flows rebound too far. Maritime Safety Watch: The IMO says about 8,000 seafarers on nearly 500 vessels still need evacuation support in the Strait area, and reiterates that transit fees would violate international law. Logistics Real Estate Fight: Segro pushed back hard against Prologis’ £12.6bn takeover bid, arguing the offer is “inadequate” and “opportunistic,” setting up a major warehouse/data-centre ownership battle. Supply Chain Finance for Space: SBA and NASA signed an MOA to boost private investment in small businesses supporting America’s space supply chain. Cold-Chain Disruption: Cleanup continues after a Boyle Heights cold-storage fire, with officials tackling disposal and environmental impacts tied to rotting food. EV Charging for LA28: Xos says fixed charging at many temporary Olympic venues can’t be permitted in time, pushing mobile battery charging solutions instead. US Workforce Support: Kentucky’s Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board won a three-year grant to retrain workers hit by BlueOval SK and other layoffs. Port/Intermodal Signal: Duisport CEO says China-Europe rail is now a key multimodal logistics route, with scheduled services strengthening resilience.

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Risk: The US and Iran traded strikes again around the Strait after reports of an Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship, renewing fears that the corridor could face longer-term disruption and even tolling plans that shippers and insurers will struggle to price in. Port & Trade Deal: MSC is set to buy a 49% stake in Adani’s Vizhinjam port for $1.4bn, a move aimed at boosting India’s deep-water transshipment capacity and pulling more cargo away from regional hubs. Logistics Automation: Fulfillment Hub USA rolled out AI-assisted workflows across claims, customer service, quoting, compliance checks and warehouse task management, reporting faster resolutions and quicker onboarding. Energy Storage for Supply Chains: Pace Digitek/Lineage Power is nearing commissioning of a 2.5 GWh BESS line and targets 10 GWh manufacturing capacity by Q3 FY2027, supporting the growing need for firm clean power. Regional Rail Boost: China opened the Xi’an–Shiyan high-speed line, cutting travel times and strengthening central-west logistics connectivity. Warehousing Expansion: DP World and Arcapita’s Lintara broke ground on a 20,000 sqm logistics centre in Jafza, with construction targeted to finish in Q1 2027. Maritime Workforce: Australia backed the Maritime Skills and Training Initiative with $13.8m to train seafarers and ease vessel crew shortages.

Strait of Hormuz Watch: After a weekend U.S.-Iran strike exchange, both sides agreed to stand down and allow commercial shipping to resume, but MarineTraffic data still shows elevated crossings and ships “going dark” on AIS for parts of the route—highlighting how security risk is reshaping routing and tracking. Energy & LNG Logistics: Oman LNG loaded its first cargo aboard “Muscat LNG” on a maiden voyage, underscoring Oman’s push to expand LNG export capacity and maritime logistics. Shipping Operations & Costs: Methanex said it will begin the process of indefinitely idling its Titan methanol plant in Trinidad and Tobago after failing to secure a new gas contract, a reminder of how fuel supply tightness can quickly hit industrial logistics. Bunkering & Maritime Services: TMD Energy reported sharply lower revenues and a net loss for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2025, reflecting pressure in marine fuel services. Military Supply Chain: The U.S. Army is looking at drone boats to move supplies in the Pacific, aiming to test systems next summer to ease watercraft readiness constraints. Cold-Chain & Trade Compliance: Zanzibar’s food regulator destroyed 82 tonnes of spoiled/expired imports after customs clearance delays left goods sitting too long at port. Index/Real Assets: UMH Properties added to the Russell 2000 Value-Defensive Index, with the REIT also operating self-storage units.

Strait of Hormuz Tolls Debate: France’s Macron met Oman’s sultan to push for “free and unconditional” passage as Iran weighs transit charges, keeping shipping owners on edge with war-risk premiums and possible bottlenecks. Ocean Freight Surge: Global ocean rates jumped to a two-year high ahead of new US tariffs, with China-to-US East Coast container costs rising sharply. Port Capacity Boost: AD Ports Group and Emirates Global Aluminium will invest AED84m to expand EGA’s Khalifa Port berth, targeting higher bulk throughput by 2028. LNG Export Milestone: Oman LNG launched its inaugural shipment on the new “Muscat LNG” vessel, reinforcing the country’s role as an energy logistics hub. Air Cargo Hit in India: Kerala’s air cargo exports fell steeply as West Asia tensions disrupt Gulf-linked routes. Cargo Theft Risk: Tesla battery shipments were allegedly stolen from Nevada loading docks at least 11 times since December, highlighting security gaps in high-value logistics. Warehouse Automation in Korea: LG CNS will open a participatory logistics/robotics tech exhibition in Seoul, showcasing driverless transport and digital infrastructure. Africa Resilience Push: UN/ECA urged Southern Africa to deepen regional integration and resilience as Middle East-driven shipping and energy disruptions raise transport and input costs. Nigeria Logistics Cost Warning: Stakeholders warned poor roads and high diesel costs are inflating logistics expenses, weighing on competitiveness. Takealot Profit Lift: South Africa’s Takealot reported first full-year adjusted profit as its logistics arm helped drive growth.

Strait of Hormuz Escalation: US and Iran talks are again under strain after new US strikes hit Iranian military targets, while Iran warns of a “total halt” to processes and demands ships get permission to transit—keeping global energy logistics on edge. Chokepoint Fees Debate: Oman is telling partners the route may not return to pre-conflict arrangements, with possible charges for services like navigation and pollution control, raising fears of a joint toll system. Maritime Resilience Alarm: New Zealand’s last domestically crewed container ship, the MV Moana Chief, faces withdrawal, sparking warnings that the country lacks a sea-freight backstop for shocks. Cold-Chain Security: Bulawayo police investigate a brazen CSC robbery where security systems were disabled and $80,000 was stolen, with inside help suspected. Last-Mile Expansion: FAST Logistics added 45 vehicles to boost urban and provincial deliveries across the Philippines. Digital Supply Chain: Origin Technology showcased supply chain digitalization and track-and-trace tools at a Cairo summit. Air Cargo Win: Ethiopian Cargo was named Africa’s Best Air Cargo Carrier at the AFLAS awards. Fuel Price Pressure: Nigeria’s FCCPC flags slow petrol price cuts despite falling global crude, warning consumers aren’t getting full relief.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions: Fresh US-Iran strikes and renewed accusations are again disrupting shipping security, with Iran tightening control over approved routes as ceasefire pressure mounts. Port & Logistics Disruption: A massive fire at a cold storage site in Lucknow highlights how quickly temperature-controlled supply chains can be hit. Maritime Trade Costs: On the Batangas–Calapan route, operators rolled fares back after fuel price moves, showing how quickly passenger and vehicle rates track energy costs. Automation & Power Infrastructure: HD Hyundai Electric opened an automated Cheongju campus, boosting output capacity 70% and streamlining logistics for circuit breakers feeding AI data centers. Urban Logistics Investment: Hana Financial signed on to develop a smart advanced logistics hub in western Seoul, aiming to blend logistics with finance and other services. Cold-Chain Security: Australia intercepted cocaine hidden in a refrigerated container at Port Botany, underlining how criminals exploit temperature-controlled lanes. Regional Trade Push: Pakistan Business Forum urged turning de-escalation with Iran into higher trade and investment via better border infrastructure and banking. Shipping Decarbonization Experiment: French wind-powered cargo sailboats backed by DHL are pitching ultra-low-emissions transatlantic freight as a next-step alternative.

Strait of Hormuz Security: A tanker was hit by a projectile as U.S.-Iran tensions flared again, prompting the U.S. to raise the maritime threat level and expand a safer passage near Oman—fresh uncertainty for global energy and shipping schedules. Port & Infrastructure Moves: India’s New Mangalore Port Authority received a senior Ports Ministry visit and laid foundation stones for a covered storage shed and road upgrades to boost bulk and break-bulk handling. Regional Logistics Expansion: Cambodia is courting a Western firm to build a regional logistics hub at Techo International Airport, alongside customs reforms aimed at faster, more transparent clearance. Freight Cost Pressure: On the Philippines’ Batangas–Mindoro ferry corridor, operators adjusted fares amid oil-price swings, showing how fuel volatility keeps hitting passenger and vehicle transport costs. Energy for Industry: Bangladesh plans a “crash programme” to stabilize gas supply for industry, including adding an FSRU—an effort to unlock stalled investment. Trade & Investment Signals: Nigeria, the EU, and ECOWAS outlined new investment avenues across agriculture, renewables, infrastructure, tech and manufacturing, with logistics highlighted as a priority sector.

Hormuz Shock to Trade: US strikes Iranian missile/drone storage and radar sites after an attack on a commercial ship, while Iran warns vessels against unauthorized transit—pushing fresh uncertainty for shipping schedules and energy flows. Energy & LNG Ripple: European gas prices ticked up as LNG carriers waited near Qatar and summer demand could keep premiums high, with storage still below seasonal norms. Broker Liability Shift: A US Supreme Court ruling tied to C.H. Robinson signals higher broker exposure for carrier vetting and safety-related negligence claims, raising the bar for verification beyond basic paperwork. Supply Chain Security: Australia seized about $36m of cocaine hidden in a refrigerated frozen-berry container, highlighting how cold-chain logistics can be abused. Port ESG Push: Adani Ports improved its ESG score to 84.3 and earned a “Leadership” rating, citing electrification and emissions cuts. Healthcare Logistics Hiring: Shore Regional Health named a new supply chain and logistics director to drive procurement, distribution, and inventory improvements. AI Credentialing Pilot: The US plans an AI supply chain credentialing/provenance platform in Panama to speed vetted shipments of semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and critical minerals.

Hormuz Shock to Trade: A cargo vessel was reportedly hit by an “unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz after IRGC warnings on approved routes, keeping crude and shipping risk front and center for energy-dependent supply chains. Shipping Compliance Reality Check: Kpler data shows only 6.4% of Strait of Hormuz crossings used the IMO lane, with most traffic routed via alternatives or with transponders off—forcing risk teams to rethink how they assess route behavior. Market Pulse: Tanker rates on the Saudi-to-China run fell sharply as transits picked up and the war-risk premium eased, while the U.S. goods trade deficit widened to a 14-month high, with shipping disruptions still weighing on costs. Cold-Chain & Warehousing: UPS is investing $48m to expand temperature-controlled healthcare logistics, while Los Angeles crews begin cleanup after a major Boyle Heights cold-storage fire. Port & Intermodal Moves: Goa’s water metro project is fast-tracked to phase I, and Italy-Croatia’s CROSS-CONNECT backs integrated port-air-urban links for more sustainable intermodal transport. Container Safety: The World Shipping Council reports container losses at sea jumped in 2025 and highlights new mandatory reporting rules from 2026. Cybersecurity for Freight: A new focus on cybersecurity stresses that supply-chain digital risk is only as strong as the weakest partner.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption: The UN’s IMO paused its escort and evacuation plan after an Evergreen vessel was hit near Oman, reviving fears that any US-Iran détente won’t fully stabilize shipping; Iran’s new “approved routes” stance also raised the risk of uninsured or non-guaranteed passages. Geopolitics & Costs: Analysts warned that any Iran-linked tolls could push up freight, insurance, and compliance costs, feeding into global inflation. Ports & Trade Corridors: Greece’s Port of Piraeus is highlighted as a China-Europe rail-sea gateway after COSCO revitalized operations a decade ago, while Kazakhstan moves to rebuild 37 border crossings to cut freight bottlenecks. Energy Storage Boom: India and China kept storage in focus, with Mercom’s July summit set to tackle a “bankable” storage ecosystem and Deye investing $181m for more C&I battery output. Freight Tech & Fleet Readiness: Mercedes says real-world data shows electric long-haul trucks are already working in daily logistics, supporting the case for wider EV adoption. Supply Chain Finance: APSEZ won an S&P “BBB” upgrade to match India’s sovereign rating, signaling stronger port-and-logistics cash flow resilience. Retail & Consumer Pressure: Apple and Microsoft price hikes tied to AI-driven memory and storage costs underline how component surges ripple into logistics demand and planning.

Strait of Hormuz Disruption: A Singapore-flagged cargo ship was hit off Oman, prompting the UN’s IMO to temporarily pause its evacuation plan for stranded vessels and seafarers, while Iran’s IRGC warns ships to use Iran-approved routes. Maritime Policy Tension: Iran is also pushing a paid transit model for Hormuz, estimating up to $40bn a year, as US officials argue military escorts remove Tehran’s leverage—keeping insurers, tanker operators and shipping schedules on edge. Energy & Logistics Costs: With crude easing, India’s road transport lobby is urging an immediate diesel price cut, saying fuel is 55%-60% of operating costs. Supply Chain Tech: Fargo Group acquired Ixolution, adding freight transport management software to expand its intermodal logistics “operating system” footprint in Europe. Cold Chain & Rail Access: PlasCred secured a conditional long-term CN Rail lease for an Alberta recycling facility with rail siding for shipping finished products. AI Memory Squeeze Hits Consumer Supply Chains: Apple raised Mac and iPad prices after memory/storage chip costs surged with AI data-centre demand, underscoring how chip shortages ripple into logistics and procurement planning.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions: Iran’s IRGC Navy rejected Oman’s safe-passage plan, warning that any route not coordinated with Tehran is “unacceptable and dangerous,” even as shipping activity and oil prices rebound with more tankers transiting. Energy & Rates: Brent slid back toward pre-Iran-war levels as vessel traffic through Hormuz picked up, easing cost pressure for fuel and freight. Maritime Security: A Liberian tanker reportedly transited despite threats, while the IMO/Oman corridor and evacuation efforts aim to move stranded seafarers and restore safer commercial flow. Cold Chain Risk: Lineage Logistics faces fallout after two major LA cold-storage fires, raising insurance and operating-cost concerns. Trade & Corridors: Kazakhstan saw record Chinese cargo transit—up 32% in 2025 to 20.2m tons—boosted by rail capacity upgrades. Green Logistics Moves: DHL is set to use wind-powered cargo vessels via Vela, and DP World launched EcoRoute to cut emissions through network redesign and lower-carbon transport options. Last-Mile Innovation: India Post and partners are expanding drone delivery for mail and light goods to remote areas. Food Exports: APEDA helped ship Andhra mangoes to Singapore by sea, highlighting cold-chain and phytosanitary logistics. Shipping Finance Tech: Mitigram and Trade Technologies teamed up to streamline trade finance execution and documentation for exporters. Fleet Expansion: HMM ordered 10 new ships (bulk and gas) as it diversifies beyond containers.