Europe

Strategic Sourcing

EU Sets 70% EV Parts Local Sourcing Rule, Pressuring Hyundai

The EU plans to require more than 70% of EV components — excluding batteries — to be sourced within the bloc by 2028, challenging Hyundai Motor Group’s supply chain. Though Hyundai and Kia operate two major European plants with combined capacity of 700,000 units annually, their local parts sourcing falls short of the new 70% threshold. Chinese automakers’ European market share rose 4.1 percentage points to 11.2%, led by BYD’s 144.1% sales surge. The EU will finalize implementation details in December, including rules on Turkish assembly and battery-cell inclusion.

2026-09-30

Warehousing & Transport

Kuehne+Nagel, CATL ink MoU for battery logistics, 75% EV truck battery demand rise

Kuehne+Nagel and CATL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance battery logistics and road transport electrification. Key initiatives include a heavy-duty truck battery-swapping pilot in China launching in 2026 and the electrification of CATL’s European transport flows. The partnership also covers battery recycling, aftersales support, and charging infrastructure. Demand for electric truck batteries rose over 75% in 2024, underscoring market momentum. Both firms aim to reduce Scope 3 emissions across shared logistics value chains.

2026-09-28

South Asia Supply Chain

India, France Discuss EPR Reactor Deployment, Supply Chain Localisation

India and France discussed EPR reactor deployment, nuclear supply chain localisation, and pumped hydro storage cooperation on September 26, 2026. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal met EDF CEO Bernard Fontana in New Delhi. Discussions covered the Draft SHANTI Rules — placed publicly by the Department of Atomic Energy — enabling private and foreign participation in nuclear power. EDF stressed that a multi-reactor programme is essential to build supplier confidence and achieve economies of scale. The NTPC-EDF joint venture on pumped hydro storage was also highlighted as a key cooperative initiative.

2026-09-27

Warehousing & Transport

Uber Freight doubles European 4PL contracts, opens Krakow hub in 2027

Uber Freight doubled its European 4PL contract wins in 2025 and will open a second 4PL control center and operations hub in Krakow, Poland, in 2027. The company, ranked No. 16 on Transport Topics’ 2026 Top 100 logistics companies list, acquired Transplace in 2021 for $225 million — a deal that brought its Netherlands-based 4PL facility into the fold. Rebecca Tinucci, CEO of Uber Freight, emphasized the strategic opportunity to unify fragmented logistics across regions. Mike Doucleff now leads European growth, following leadership roles at Schneider Electric and Alpitronic. Globally, Uber Freight employs over 4,000 people.

2026-09-25

North America Supply Chain

Canada shifts imports to EU, UK amid 50% US tariffs

Amid 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods and reciprocal retaliation, Canadian importers are shifting sourcing to the EU and UK. Steffen Manz of Speed Global Logistics notes trial shipments from Europe are underway, with full-scale maritime volume increases expected into Montreal, Saint John, and Halifax. The UK’s 1 September CPTPP accession and CETA provide duty-free stability, accelerating a structural supply chain realignment. Cross-border trucking is declining while transatlantic air and ocean freight rise — driven by volatility aversion, not just cost.

2026-09-24

Disruptions

Record-Low Rhine Levels Choke Barge Traffic, Stress Ground Transport

Record-low Rhine River water levels — falling to 32 cm at Kaub on September 15, 2026, the lowest since 1920 — are crippling barge traffic. Navigation restrictions took effect on September 10, 2026, forcing up to 40% load reductions and diverting 1.7 million tons of freight to roads and rails. Chemical and energy sectors report steep shipment declines: BASF cut ammonia barge deliveries by 12%, while coal deliveries dropped 31%. Rhine freight volumes fell 37% YoY in mid-September, with levels expected to stay below 50 cm through October 2026.

2026-09-23

Technology

Kuehne+Nagel lands Amazon data center logistics mandate

Kuehne+Nagel has secured the global logistics mandate for Amazon’s data center expansion, covering transportation, customs, warehousing, and installation support across the US, EU, and Japan-Korea. The contract governs shipments for 2026 and 2027 deployments, with operations at 5 strategic hubs and $42 million in annual logistics spend. Digital integration via KN Login ensures 99.8% on-time delivery and supports Amazon’s projected 37% increase in new facility openings through 2027.

2026-09-22

Strategy & Planning

Ransomware Attacks on Manufacturers Rise 40% in 2026

Ransomware attacks on manufacturers rose 40% year over year in early 2026, with 1,183 victims identified in the first seven months — up 39.7% from 2025 and surpassing all of 2024. Manufacturing led all industries with 22% of 7,551 total disclosed victims. Seventy-point-two percent of victims had $10M–$100M revenue; median revenue was $42.9M. European attacks surged 85.4%, while U.S. share fell to 34.8%. Germany saw an 83% rise. Forty-nine-point-seven percent of 2026 incidents involved new ransomware groups, including The Gentlemen (12%).

2026-09-19

Last Mile

CEP Market to Hit $975.2B by 2035 Amid Last-Mile Shift

The global courier, express and parcel (CEP) industry is projected to grow from $476.5 billion in 2025 to $975.2 billion by 2035, expanding at a 7.6% CAGR. China logged over 170 billion express deliveries in a recent year, with daily peaks above 700 million parcels. UPS holds just over 5% market share, while the top five players control less than 20% combined. Cross-border parcel services are forecast to grow far faster than domestic ones, and B2B shipping volumes are expected to rise more than four times faster than consumer parcel volumes.

2026-09-19

Benchmark Practices

Hapag-Lloyd targets $300M–$500M annual ZIM synergies

Hapag-Lloyd expects its $4.2 billion acquisition of ZIM to deliver $300 million–$500 million in annual synergies, according to CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. The deal, finalized in February and approved by shareholders, now faces intensified regulatory scrutiny — especially from Israeli authorities. Direct dialogue with regulators is underway, and Hapag-Lloyd is refining its proposal to address maritime security concerns under Israel’s Golden Share framework. The merged company would operate over 400 vessels, with capacity above 3 million TEU and annual transport volumes exceeding 18 million TEU.

2026-09-17

Manufacturing

BYD to launch ETT 44 e-truck in Europe by Q2 2026

BYD plans to deliver its ETT 44 electric tractor unit to Europe by Q2 2026 and pursue local manufacturing to become 'a European company.' The truck offers up to 372 miles of range and charges 20–80% in 20 minutes. With current EU tariffs on Chinese EVs reaching up to 45%, local production — potentially in Hungary or via acquisition — aims to mitigate duties. BYD already operates bus and battery facilities in Hungary and holds partnerships with Forvia and Voestalpine. ACEA reports €1.3bn in EU imports of Chinese commercial vehicles in 2025.

2026-09-17

Procurement

OXEA taps Uber Freight to manage North American, European logistics

OXEA has partnered with Uber Freight to manage its logistics operations across North America and Europe, beginning in Q3 2024. The agreement covers end-to-end transportation management for chemical products, including tendering, execution, tracking, and freight audit and payment. Integration with OXEA’s ERP and TMS systems enables real-time visibility. Pilots were conducted in Germany and the United States prior to full rollout. Dr. Thomas Knaus, OXEA’s Chief Procurement Officer, highlighted scalability and cross-regional consistency as decisive factors.

2026-09-16