EU regulation and green barriers

ESG & Regulation

DHL, Vinted expand German circular fashion logistics

DHL and Vinted are expanding their partnership in Germany to support the booming second-hand fashion market. The global second-hand market is valued at US$210-220bn, growing 3x faster than firsthand sales. DHL plans to grow its locker network from 18,500 to more than 30,000 locations by 2030, with 67% of German online shoppers already selling items via marketplaces. The partnership combines Vinted's 17 million UK users with DHL's 41,000 parcel points to make circular fashion logistics more accessible.

ESG & Regulation

European Berries Lead with 90% Quality Trust, 87% Sustainability Rating

A Berry Swing survey of 300+ consumers in Livigno found 90% associate European berries with quality and reliability, 87% rate them more sustainable than non-EU alternatives, and 88% deem them healthier. Global berry cultivation grew 117.5% between 2015–2024, reaching 282,000 hectares; production hit 2.15 million tonnes in 2024 and is forecast to reach 3.2 million tonnes by 2028. The EU-backed, three-year Berry Swing project promotes traceability, safety, and regenerative practices across Italian and German supply chains.

Procurement

BMW cuts 8,000 jobs by 2027 amid EU supply chain retooling

BMW plans to cut ~8,000 global positions by 2027 — primarily in administration and development — as shrinking margins (down to 2.3% in automotive) and collapsing China deliveries (−30.2% Q2) force structural change. Simultaneously, EU industrial policy pushes for regionalized, policy-aligned auto sourcing. New CEO Milan Nedeljkovic is revisiting 'untouchable' processes across procurement, production, and development — highlighting how lean operations now collide with geopolitical supply chain constraints.

Europe Supply Chain

UK DBT pledges £600M for aerospace freight innovation

The UK Department for Business and Trade has pledged £600 million to advance aerospace innovation, including more than £500 million for green air travel R&D and a £100 million supply chain fund. Announced by Secretary Jonathan Reynolds at the Farnborough Airshow, the plan supports freight modernisation, aims to double the sector’s market value by 2035, and responds to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s 10-year reindustrialisation agenda. The initiative directly impacts air freight reliability, emissions reduction, and UK-wide skilled job creation.

ESG & Regulation

5U AI raises $3.2M to scale freight-agentic AI platform

Munich-based 5U AI has raised $3.2 million in pre-seed funding to scale its freight-agentic AI platform across Europe. Co-founded in 2025 by Technical University of Munich graduates Yagiz Abik and Fehmi Şener, the startup deploys multi-agent AI workers that execute operational tasks — from quotations and bookings to invoice reconciliation — while capturing decision logic to build institutional knowledge. Backed by ex-leaders from DHL, Maersk, DSV, GEODIS, and CEVA Logistics, 5U AI is already live with TCI International Logistics across air and ocean freight. The round, led by London’s Emerge Capital, supports product development and European go-to-market expansion.

Europe Supply Chain

Verdion completes €310M European Logistics Fund with Leipzig warehouse fully leased

Verdion has fully leased its 11,872m² Leipzig warehouse—completing the speculative development phase of its €310 million Verdion European Logistics Fund 1 (VELF 1), launched in September 2020. The asset, certified to DGNB Gold, was acquired on a 40,000m² site in 2021 and now hosts a major textile service provider. An adjacent 8,500m² building is occupied by overnight express provider nox. Located between the A9 and A38 motorways near Leipzig/Halle Airport, the site exemplifies demand for sustainable, well-connected urban logistics infrastructure across Northern Europe.

Manufacturing

Maersk raises intra-North Europe capacity by 28%, market share to 16.2%

Maersk increased its intra-North Europe container capacity by 28% year-on-year — from 39,800 TEU to 50,800 TEU — lifting its market share to 16.2%. The trade lane overall grew 6.8% to 243 vessels averaging 1,294 TEU. CLdN’s acquisition of Samskip’s UK–Europe services halved Samskip’s capacity (9,600 TEU → 5,800 TEU) and dropped its ranking from 7th to 14th. MSC’s share dipped slightly to 21.2%, while CMA CGM fell to fourth place with 9.6% share. Maersk added 14,300 TEU via two new Baltic feeders, including the methanol-fueled Laura Maersk (2,100 TEU).

Manufacturing

EU €3 tariff cuts Asia-Europe air cargo 24% in 5 weeks

Freighter capacity into Europe dropped 14% month-on-month in July 2026, equaling 18 fewer widebody flights daily, following the EU’s €3 customs duty on parcels under €150 introduced 1 July. Hong Kong–Europe air cargo volumes plunged 24% year-on-year by mid-July, with five straight weekly declines. Tonnages from mainland China fell 10% YoY; combined China–Hong Kong volumes to Europe dropped 11% YoY across weeks 26–29. Vietnam and Thailand saw 9% and 11% YoY declines respectively. A €2 handling fee takes effect 1 November 2026, ahead of the EU Customs Data Hub launch in 2028.

Digital Platforms

ASUENE acquires UK carbon platform Secaro, serves 56,000 clients

ASUENE has acquired UK-based Secaro, a supply chain carbon management platform serving over 8,000 companies across 90 countries, including Toyota, Honda, and GM. The deal — ASUENE’s eighth acquisition — follows a July 2025 alliance and expands its reach ahead of EU CSRD reporting deadlines in 2028 and UK ISSB-aligned rules starting in 2027. ASUENE’s customer base has doubled to 56,000 across Japan, Asia, North America, and Europe. Secaro, formerly Manufacture 2030, brings deep supplier engagement capabilities to complement ASUENE’s AI sustainability infrastructure.

Procurement

GSK cuts $2.5B via supply chain, procurement overhaul

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) aims to cut $2.5 billion in costs through supply chain and procurement reforms, including a 5-year logistics contract with Kuehne + Nagel featuring four regional Logistics Control Centers. Former CEO Andrew Witty emphasized sustained cost pressure, while current CEO Luke Miels champions a 'product-centric' model targeting more than £40 billion in revenue by 2031. The initiative follows industry trends seen at Novartis and Teva, where supply chain improvements were expected to yield hundreds of millions in savings.

Southeast Asia Supply Chain

China pledges $65B in Indonesia mineral manufacturing

China has pledged manufacturing support to Indonesia, anchoring a $65 billion investment drive focused on nickel and other critical minerals. Analysts say Beijing aims to lock in supply chain control amid Indonesia’s 2014 ban on raw ore exports. Ambassador Wang Lutong highlighted electric vehicles, battery materials, and steel processing as priority sectors. The move coincides with Jakarta’s joint statement with Washington to ease critical mineral exports to the U.S., underscoring Indonesia’s pivotal role in global green-energy supply chains.

Supply Chain

CMA CGM to acquire up to 49% of French rail freight leader for €800m

CMA CGM is poised to acquire up to 49% of Rail Logistics Europe (RLE), France’s largest rail freight operator, for approximately €800 million. The deal emerges from an EU-mandated restructuring of Fret SNCF after findings of illegal state aid. RLE manages at least 80% of French military freight transport and includes subsidiaries Hexafret, Captrain France, and VIIA. Competing bidders include Rhenus Logistics and Daniel Kretinsky’s group. CMA CGM’s rail expansion follows its Freightliner acquisition (2,000 wagons, 10 terminals) and $1.4 billion FedEx Supply Chain purchase. SNCF retains majority control under strict 49% cap.