Latest procurement and supply chain signals
Red Sea: carrier capacity doubles in six weeks
Medium · transport_supplychain · 17 Oct 2026
According to Xeneta, offered container capacity via the Red Sea has doubled in six weeks as carriers accelerate their return to the route. At the same time, schedule reliability is close to a record low and port congestion has built up.
Recommendation: Check with your forwarder or carrier which Cape of Good Hope routing surcharges are still included in your rates, and ask whether they will be adjusted once your cargo moves via the Red Sea again. If your inbound flows from Asia run on tight stock levels, assess whether your safety stock or lead-time buffer is sufficient while schedule reliability remains low.
Volkswagen recalls thousands of EVs incl. ID.4 and ID. Buzz
Medium · leveranciersrisico · 16 Oct 2026
Volkswagen is set to recall 'several thousand' electric vehicles, including the ID.4 and the ID. Buzz. The recall is not limited to the United States.
Recommendation: Check with your leasing company or dealer whether ID.4 or ID. Buzz vehicles in your fleet fall under the recall, if you operate these models. Also review the terms in your lease contract on replacement vehicles during recalls.
Ukraine strikes Ryazan refinery: diesel risk rises
Medium · energie_brandstoffen · 16 Oct 2026
According to Russian officials, Ukrainian forces have struck an oil refinery in the Ryazan region. The attack comes shortly after US pressure to halt such strikes. Two Trump decisions will also set this weekend's energy risk.
Recommendation: Check the fuel-surcharge indexation clauses in your road haulage and fleet contracts. Consider partly fixing the diesel price for Q4/Q1 ahead of the weekend risk.
Carriers say they bear cost of green transition
Medium · transport_supplychain · 16 Oct 2026
Container shipping lines claim they are bearing the cost of investments in alternative fuels and lower-emission vessels. This sets the tone for the debate on who pays for decarbonisation.
Recommendation: In 2027 ocean freight tenders, request a separate, transparent breakdown of all green and emissions surcharges. Fix the calculation method in the contract. Also request per-shipment emissions data for your ESG reporting.
Labour exploitation reports up 13%: vet staffing chain
Medium · wetgeving_compliance · 16 Oct 2026
Reports of labour exploitation in the Netherlands rose by 13 per cent last year. Enforcement remains difficult, and there are calls for the criminal justice system to lower the bar for prosecution.
Recommendation: Check that staffing agencies and subcontractors are certified (for example NEN 4400) and include audit rights and reporting obligations in contracts. Prioritise categories with heavy flexible labour use, such as warehousing, cleaning and seasonal work.
Gas storage costs passed on to industry via tariff
Medium · energie_brandstoffen · 16 Oct 2026
Gas storage costs are reaching Dutch industry through the tariff. Together with Germany, France and Italy, the Netherlands has the largest gas storage capacity in Europe.
Recommendation: Break the gas bill down into commodity, tariff and levies, and check which tariff changes current contracts pass through. Include the tariff component in budgeting and in supplier discussions for the coming contract year.
UPM starts world's largest wood-based chemicals site
Low · grondstoffen_materialen · 16 Oct 2026
Finland's UPM has inaugurated its biorefinery in Leuna, Germany. It is the world's largest facility for wood-based chemicals.
Recommendation: Map whether wood-based alternatives from Leuna fit your specifications, if you have ESG or Scope 3 targets for chemicals or plastic packaging. Check with UPM or your distributors when volumes and product specifications will become available.
Waalhaven Zuid rail yard to handle 740-metre freight trains
Low · transport_supplychain · 16 Oct 2026
The Waalhaven Zuid rail yard in Rotterdam will undergo a major renewal over the next two years. Afterwards it will have more capacity for 740-metre freight trains.
Recommendation: Ask rail operators and forwarders how the works will affect their schedules via Waalhaven Zuid. Include longer trains as a variable in rail and modal-shift tenders for 2027-2028.
Breewel France acquires Transports EON
Low · leveranciersrisico · 16 Oct 2026
Breewel France, the French arm of the Dutch haulier Breewel, is expanding its activities in France. To do so, it is integrating the haulier Transports EON.
Recommendation: Shippers with contracts at either party should check whether the contracting entity, liability and rate agreements remain unchanged after the integration.
Wolfspeed to supply Infineon with 200mm SiC substrates
Low · technologie_cyber · 16 Oct 2026
Wolfspeed has signed a multi-year agreement to supply Infineon with 200mm silicon carbide substrates. The deal directly supports Infineon's conversion to 200mm SiC manufacturing.
Recommendation: Map which bills of materials contain SiC power components. Ask suppliers about their timeline for the move to 200mm and what it means for lead times and prices.
Kornwerderzand lock expansion delayed by years
Low · transport_supplychain · 16 Oct 2026
According to RTL Nieuws, the Dutch cabinet has shelved the expansion of the Kornwerderzand lock in the Afsluitdijk. The expansion is therefore still years away.
Recommendation: Shippers using IJsselmeer ports: plan multi-year transport and capacity around current vessel sizes. Construction and infrastructure firms: reassess the expected tender pipeline for Rijkswaterstaat projects.
Sparta sold to Tenways: review bike lease and service deals
Low · leveranciersrisico · 15 Oct 2026
The Chinese-Dutch company Tenways is the new owner of the bicycle brand Sparta. This marks the sale of yet another Accell brand.
Recommendation: In bike lease framework agreements and dealer contracts, review the clauses on warranty, spare-parts supply and change of control. Ask the supplier to confirm continuity of service and parts.