Six companies dominate the business of farm supplies. The interest of Monsanto, the world's biggest seed producer, in buying Syngenta, the largest agrochemicals firm, had threatened to whittle them down to five. That raised worries about whether the reduction in competition would mean less innovation - and thus slower improvements in crop yields - as well as higher costs for farmers.

Noelle Walsh, corporation vice president of supply chain with The Dow Chemical Company, outlines the chemical industry giant's efforts to become more customer-focused, while synchronizing its supply chain upstream to suppliers, and downstream to customers.

LNG carrier freight rates have come under severe pressure due to rising fleet supply and stabilising LNG demand, as Japan prepares to restart its nuclear power plants. Despite the general market belief that new LNG supply from Australian projects will provide ample employment to the growing fleet, there are immediate challenges on freight rates. This is due to 49 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of Australian LNG cargo supply expected to hit the market over the next two years, according to the newly launched LNG Forecaster report published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

A surge in crude tanker vessel capacity over the next two years will lead to a fall in ship-owner earnings from current highs, according to the latest edition of the Tanker Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

The chemical tanker shipping market has been strongly supported by specialised trades and clean petroleum products (CPP) demand during the second quarter of the year. Although many newbuildings were delivered, the market has been able to absorb the extra tonnage, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

Flexstr8, a smart-label start-up based in El Segundo, Calif., has released a near field communication-enabled labeling solution for on-demand printing of labels that link NFC readers to data about the labeled products.