The need to know

The need to know for the week ending 3rd July 2020

 

The need to know from Reuters global network of journalists

COVID-19 delivery surge strains FedEx service, opening doors for UPS

A months-long flood of coronavirus-related e-commerce packages is straining service FedEx Corp (FDX.N), giving rival United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) an opportunity to steal market share, customers and consultants told Reuters.

Royal Mail to cut 2,000 jobs in fight to reform as profits shrink

Royal Mail (RMG.L) laid out a restructuring plan that included 2,000 job cuts on Thursday, as management sought to push through change at Britain’s former postal monopoly after a battle with unions drove out the previous CEO.

Apple supplier Foxconn, others hit as India holds up imports from China-sources

India’s additional scrutiny of imports from China has disrupted operations at plants owned by Apple supplier Foxconn in southern India, three sources told Reuters, and other foreign firms are also facing delays as tensions between the two countries build.

U.S. House approves $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill but outlook uncertain

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $1.5 trillion infrastructure package on Wednesday by a 233-to-188 vote to boost spending on roads, bridges, public transit and rail, but the White House and Senate Republicans opposed the measure.

TuSimple starts self-driving truck network with UPS, Berkshire Hathaway's McLane

U.S. technology company TuSimple on Wednesday launched a self-driving freight network with UPS and Berkshire Hathaway Inc supply chain unit McLane that it said should operate nationwide by 2024 and start running some driverless trucks routes by 2021.

Exclusive: After pandemic, U.S. senators want review of drug supply chain

Republican and Democratic U.S. senators called for a government analysis of foreign influence in the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain on Tuesday, saying the coronavirus pandemic has exposed an over-reliance on China and other countries for the production of essential drugs.

Japan's fussy food shoppers finally go online amid pandemic

The coronavirus has forced Japan’s notoriously fussy food shoppers to abandon doubts about online grocery stores, sending retailers such as Aeon Co (8267.T) scrambling to meet a surge in delivery demand.

Cobalt-rich Congo province to centralise mineral sales

All minerals produced through small-scale artisanal mining in Democratic Republic of Congo’s southeastern Lualaba province must be tested and sold at a centralised trade hub from June 29, the provincial governor said in a document seen on Thursday.

U.S. to take stake in troubled trucking company YRC Worldwide

YRC Worldwide Inc (YRCW.O) said on Wednesday it would give the U.S. government a 29.6% stake in the trucking company in exchange for a $700 million loan, tapping into a $17 billion bailout fund originally intended for defense contractors such as Boeing Co (BA.N).

Amazon workers in Germany to go on strike over coronavirus infections

Workers at six Amazon sites in Germany will go on strike on Monday in protest over safety after some staff at logistics centres tested positive for coronavirus, labour union Verdi said.

Amazon, SoftBank held talks over Russian online retailer Ozon, shareholder says

Global retail giant Amazon (AMZN.O) and Japanese SoftBank (9984.T) have made approaches to Russian conglomerate Sistema (AFKS.MM) about a possible acquisition of its online retailer Ozon, Sistema’s majority owner Vladimir Evtushenkov said on Saturday.

Amazon India scraps single-use plastic in packaging across centers

The Indian unit of Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) has eliminated all single-use plastic in its packaging across fulfillment centers in the country, in line with its target to weed out the packaging material by June, the e-commerce giant said on Monday.

Amazon agrees to buy self-driving technology startup Zoox

Amazon.com Inc has agreed to buy California-based self-driving startup Zoox Inc in a deal reported to be worth more than $1 billion that gives it options to use autonomous technology in either ride-hailing or its delivery network.

Shipping firm CMA CGM to impose emergency surcharge at Cape Town port

CMA CGM [CMACG.UL], the world’s fourth-largest container shipping line, will impose emergency congestion surcharges at Cape Town port in July due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus, it has told customers.

Lazada, Alibaba's Southeast Asian arm, appoints its third CEO in three years

Southeast Asian e-commerce firm Lazada, a unit of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N), on Friday named its third chief executive in three years - a move that comes after it lost ground last year to rival Shopee.  

Uber bus just around the corner on post-pandemic public transit map

Urban transportation’s transformation has shifted up a gear as the coronavirus crisis turns travel habits on their head, with Uber making allies of public transit systems by now offering to sell them its software expertise.

Indonesia reports $850 mln in factory investments, says billions committed

Indonesia’s investment board on Tuesday said seven companies would soon relocate factories to the Southeast Asian nation worth a combined $850 million, most moving from China, with a potential for billions more from another 17 interested firms.

From elsewhere around the web

U.K. Warehouse Demand Hits Record Amid Online Shopping Boom. [Bloomberg]

Valencia to build the most ‘environmentally advanced’ terminal in the world. [Port Technology]

USMCA takes effect. How does it affect supply chains? [SupplyChainDive]

Nike increases digital fulfillment capacity 3x due to pandemic. [SupplyChainDive]

Crew crisis to trigger ship detentions and diversions. [FreightWaves]

Breaking news: Trucking jobs rose by 8,100 in June. [FreightWaves]

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