Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Mahindra Logistics beats Q3 profit view on 28% core segment growth

Mahindra Logistics reported Q3 FY2025–26 net profit of ₹142.3 crore — exceeding estimates — fueled by 28% YoY growth in its core supply chain segment. Revenue rose 19.6% to ₹1,892.7 crore, with EBITDA margin improving to 11.4%. The firm operates 37 warehouses across 15 Indian states, manages 12 million sq ft of warehousing, and runs a 4,200-vehicle last-mile fleet. Its MLogIQ platform serves 2,100+ customers, and its new Pune automation hub processes 25,000 packages/hour. Leadership reaffirmed full-year revenue growth guidance of 18–20%.

2026-07-21

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

BMW cuts new X5 lifecycle emissions by 40%

BMW Group has reduced the lifecycle CO₂e emissions of its new fifth-generation X5 by around 40%, according to Automotive Logistics. Vice President of Product Sustainability Nils Hesse identified battery cells as the largest single emissions lever — delivering a 28% CO₂e reduction per watt-hour versus prior Gen5 cells. Material innovations include 50% EAF steel, 35% recycled aluminum in doors, 100% recycled PET in headliners, and 940 kg of secondary materials in the iX5 60 xDrive. BMW mandates 100% renewable energy for battery suppliers and sources battery packs from Plant Woodruff, just 15 miles from Spartanburg. All figures are benchmarked against an internationally recognised LCA database.

2026-07-20

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Leidos, DHL Ink UK Defence Logistics Alliance

Leidos and DHL Supply Chain have formed a strategic alliance to jointly bid for the UK Ministry of Defence’s logistics contract. Central to the effort is Leidos’ Support Chain Integration Platform (SCIP), recently migrated to the MOD Cloud — a milestone cited by MOD’s Andy Kyte as pivotal for digital modernisation. SCIP delivers secure supply chain transparency and supports AI-driven analytics, cybersecurity enhancements, and improved visibility. Leidos’ civil security segment accounts for 44.3% of net sales, while its health segment represents 29.5%. The partnership reflects broader industry trends toward hybrid digital-physical logistics delivery in defence contexts.

2026-07-19

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

71% of Firms Prioritize Cost-Risk Balance, Yet Only 45% Are Disruption-Ready

A joint survey by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and Amazon Business shows 71% of organizations now prioritize cost-risk balance in procurement strategy — yet only 45% feel prepared for supply chain disruptions. Of 425 global supply chain professionals surveyed, 65% still use manual reporting, and just 46% employ scenario planning. Advanced risk tools like risk matrices (49%) and predictive analytics remain underused. The research advocates a 'total cost of ownership' operating model centered on diversification, visibility, faster decisions, and expanded scenario planning.

2026-07-18

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

General Mills overhauls supply chain for $1B in savings

General Mills is overhauling its supply chain as part of a $3 billion cost-cutting effort targeting $1 billion in savings from process and technology improvements by 2030. COO Dana McNabb, promoted in June 2026, leads the initiative amid rising demand volatility. The current fiscal year began May 26, 2026, with $750 million in savings expected this year. The revamp prioritizes packaging flexibility and faster innovation. Peers including Procter & Gamble, Clorox, and Nestlé are executing similar supply chain modernizations.

2026-07-17

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Lululemon launches 1M-sq-ft Brampton DC for US, Canada e-commerce

Lululemon has opened a 1-million-square-foot automated distribution center in Brampton, Ontario, fully operational as of June 2026. The facility supports e-commerce fulfillment across Eastern Canada and the Eastern U.S., featuring an AutoStore robotic system. Chief Supply Chain Officer Ted Dagnese stated it enhances speed, agility, and guest service. Construction began in 2023, aligning with Lululemon’s $4.2 billion FY2025 North American revenue and broader infrastructure investments including its 700,000-square-foot Phoenix DC.

2026-07-16

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

ABF substrate shortage intensifies through 2028 amid AI chip demand

Surging AI chip demand has triggered a global shortage of ABF substrates — critical interposer materials used in advanced chip packaging — with supply constraints projected to persist through 2028. Global utilization rates exceed 95%, lead times have stretched to 26 weeks, and capital-intensive expansions won’t yield volume output until late 2027. Major suppliers Ajinomoto, Unimicron, and IBIDEN control 85% of capacity, concentrated in Taiwan and Japan. Packaging costs have risen 18–25%, and AI server deliveries face 8–10 week delays. A Singapore-based contract manufacturer cut AI accelerator builds by 37% in Q2 2026 due solely to substrate shortages.

2026-07-15

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Jabil acquires Rebound Electronics to boost global supply chain resilience

Jabil acquired Rebound Electronics on July 13, 2026, integrating its electronic component distribution capabilities with Jabil’s global manufacturing network across 28 countries and 100+ facilities. The deal creates a 'Strategic Distribution Partner' model aimed at improving supply chain resilience, reducing procurement cycle time by 22%, and increasing forecast accuracy by 18 percentage points. Executives including Frank McKay (Jabil), Simon Thake (Rebound founder), Grant Fairbairn (Rebound CRO), and Raj Keshvara (Rebound COO) emphasized enhanced market intelligence, customer-first agility, and end-to-end electronics ecosystem support.

2026-07-14

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

US, Japan ink critical minerals pact with price floors, stockpiling goals

The U.S. and Japan launched the U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Action Plan on March 19, 2026, creating a plurilateral framework with border-adjusted price floors, joint stockpiling goals, and $420 million in combined public funding. The pact targets cobalt, nickel, lithium, and graphite, addressing supply concentration risks where over 70% of cobalt refining and 60% of lithium processing occur in just one or two countries. A new Coordination Secretariat begins operations in Q2 2026, with supplier compliance deadlines set for January 2027.

2026-07-13

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

STRAUSS, DHL launch integrated Columbus logistics hub handling 1.3M units/year

STRAUSS and DHL Supply Chain launched an integrated logistics partnership in Columbus, Ohio, on June 24, 2026. The hub processes up to 1.3 million units annually and embeds embroidery and print customization directly into fulfillment. After six months of joint integration, the operation supports STRAUSS’s U.S. B2B growth and upcoming digital store enhancements. Matthias Fischer, STRAUSS COO and Treasurer, and Patrick Bennett, DHL Supply Chain North America CFO, confirmed the go-live and scalability benefits.

2026-07-11

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Posco, KB Kookmin Bank launch supply chain finance with industry-low rates

Posco and KB Kookmin Bank launched a supply chain finance program on July 9, 2026, targeting steel suppliers facing liquidity pressure amid sector-wide downturn. Integrated into Posco’s My Posco platform, the service offers industry-low interest rates and ESG consulting, with rollout planned later this year. The initiative covers ~450 Korean suppliers initially, expanding globally in Q1 2027. It builds on Posco’s 2025 SME support and mirrors successful models by Samsung and Hyundai, which cut supplier defaults by 12%.

2026-07-10

Japan & Korea Supply Chain

Trump pledges 25% tariffs on South Korean cars, lumber, pharma

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on South Korean imports—including cars, lumber, and pharmaceuticals—to 25%, up from the 15% rate set in November 2025 under a framework trade pact. The hike hinges on South Korea’s National Assembly failing to enact the agreement’s terms. No effective date or official White House documentation has been issued as of January 27, 2026. The framework was first struck in July 2025 and formalized in Gyeongju on October 29, 2025, during a meeting between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

2026-07-09