Chemicals & Energy

Iran Faces Numerous Obstacles to Ramping Up Oil Exports

April 22, 2016

Iran faces a struggle to increase oil exports because many of its tankers are tied up storing crude, some are not seaworthy, and foreign shipowners remain reluctant to carry its cargoes.

Despite Continued Cheap Diesel, Natural Gas Truck Sales Still Growing

April 20, 2016

ACT Research

U.S. and Canadian natural gas Class 8 truck retail sales improved modestly in February, after getting off to a slow start in 2016, according to a recent report from ACT Research.

Specialty Chemical Companies Successfully Align Supply Chains, Business Objectives

April 20, 2016

ChemInfo

Chemical companies are usually considered quite conservative. But according to McKinsey and Company research, the chemical sector is among the highest-performing industries. Total return to shareholders for chemicals is nearly double that of the world equity market, and the CAGR for the period from June 2008 to March 2015 for the chemical industry runs about 9 percent, compared to 6 percent for all markets. Clearly the industry has been doing something right.

It May Be the World's Biggest Traffic Jam

April 18, 2016

Maritime Executive

As ports struggle to cope with a global oil glut, huge queues of supertankers have formed in some of the world's busiest sea lanes, where some 200 million barrels of crude lies waiting to be loaded or delivered.

J.R. Simplot: Surviving the Perils of Multitasking

April 12, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

The vertically integrated agriculture and food producer takes on the job of overhauling its supply, demand and logistics-planning systems, while opening a major new production plant.

Have Oil, Gas Companies Done Enough to Guard Against Cybersecurity Risk?

April 7, 2016

BCG Perspectives

Across industries, companies have been intensifying their focus on cybersecurity. This is a direct consequence of the expanding role that digitization is playing in their business and operating models and the demonstrated potential for significant damage resulting from a successful cyberattack.

First Solar: Challenging the Norm in Supply-Chain Management

April 4, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

First Solar sets out to create a centralized network that will allow it to share forecast data with suppliers upstream, and customers downstream. Systems analyst Cameron Sulfaro describes the initiative, and what it has achieved to date.

Ensure Third Party Efficiency through Proper Documentation and Reporting

March 30, 2016

Interview with Laurel Sykes, Chief Risk Officer, SVP Risk & Compliance Dept., Montecito Bank & Trust

Boom in Tanker Shipping Industry May Have Reached Peak

March 29, 2016

HIS Maritime & Trade

Tankers are currently the most profitable vessels in shipping with the cost to charter them remaining high by comparison with other ship types. These freight rates are expected to stay steady for the next 18 months despite a delivery boom of new tankers scheduled for late 2016, according to Devlin McStay, data analyst with IHS Maritime & Trade.

Four Best Practices to Improve Quality in the Supply Chain

March 14, 2016

Sparta Systems

Chemicals & Energy

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the chemicals and energy industries. Learn how chemical and energy companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.