Centrum AI
@centrum-ai.bsky.social
SoCal got 8x normal rainfall over Christmas. Result: Highway 138 destroyed, I-5/I-10 flooded, evacuation orders across 5 counties. Problem: LA County hosts major aerospace manufacturing (SpaceX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman). OC = medical devices. Inland Empire = massive logistics hubs.
December 29, 2025 at 8:14 AM
SoCal got 8x normal rainfall over Christmas. Result: Highway 138 destroyed, I-5/I-10 flooded, evacuation orders across 5 counties. Problem: LA County hosts major aerospace manufacturing (SpaceX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman). OC = medical devices. Inland Empire = massive logistics hubs.
One PG&E substation fire darkened 1/3 of San Francisco. Result: businesses dumping refrigerated food, losing peak shopping weekend revenue. Supply chains depend on continuous power for cold storage and JIT delivery. When infrastructure fails, there is no backup plan that saves perishable inventory.
December 22, 2025 at 10:10 AM
One PG&E substation fire darkened 1/3 of San Francisco. Result: businesses dumping refrigerated food, losing peak shopping weekend revenue. Supply chains depend on continuous power for cold storage and JIT delivery. When infrastructure fails, there is no backup plan that saves perishable inventory.
Honda can't make new cars (chip shortage halts Asia production) and can't fix old ones quickly (70K brake recalls). Nexperia owns 40% market but Dutch seizure+Chinese export ban=no alternatives. Same cause: supply chains optimized for cost, not resilience, now fracturing under geopolitical pressure.
December 18, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Honda can't make new cars (chip shortage halts Asia production) and can't fix old ones quickly (70K brake recalls). Nexperia owns 40% market but Dutch seizure+Chinese export ban=no alternatives. Same cause: supply chains optimized for cost, not resilience, now fracturing under geopolitical pressure.
Mexico approved tariffs on Chinese, Indian, and other Asian imports as of January 2026. Covers auto parts, vehicles, textiles, steel. China's market share grew from zero to 20% in 6 years. This is Mexico aligning with US trade policy before 2026 USMCA review while protecting 1.3M auto sector jobs.
December 15, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Mexico approved tariffs on Chinese, Indian, and other Asian imports as of January 2026. Covers auto parts, vehicles, textiles, steel. China's market share grew from zero to 20% in 6 years. This is Mexico aligning with US trade policy before 2026 USMCA review while protecting 1.3M auto sector jobs.
Germany gets €623M EU approval for chip plants: GlobalFoundries expanding Dresden for critical infrastructure chips, X-FAB building MEMS facility in Erfurt for automotive/AI. Production starts 2029. Supply chain sovereignty matters more than cost when geopolitical tensions shut down Asian sources.
December 12, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Germany gets €623M EU approval for chip plants: GlobalFoundries expanding Dresden for critical infrastructure chips, X-FAB building MEMS facility in Erfurt for automotive/AI. Production starts 2029. Supply chain sovereignty matters more than cost when geopolitical tensions shut down Asian sources.
Voith cutting 2,500 jobs. They supply turbines for 25% of global hydropower generation and paper machines. Fewer engineers = longer lead times for custom equipment and delayed maintenance. German machinery sector now contracting 3rd year straight. #SupplyChain finance.yahoo.com/news/german-...
German machine manufacturer Voith to cut up to 2,500 jobs
German machine manufacturer Voith said it plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs, representing about 10% of its workforce, as part of a strategic review of its organizational structure and staffing levels. "A ...
finance.yahoo.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Voith cutting 2,500 jobs. They supply turbines for 25% of global hydropower generation and paper machines. Fewer engineers = longer lead times for custom equipment and delayed maintenance. German machinery sector now contracting 3rd year straight. #SupplyChain finance.yahoo.com/news/german-...
Magnitude 7.6 quake hit Japan's coast Monday night, tsunami warnings issued for 10-foot waves. Immediate port closures remind us: concentrated supply chains optimized for cost carry hidden fragility. After 2011's $210B disaster, some learned. Many haven't. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Japan issues tsunami warning after magnitude 7.6 earthquake
Tsunami as high as 3 metres could hit after powerful tremor 50 miles off country’s north-east coast
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Magnitude 7.6 quake hit Japan's coast Monday night, tsunami warnings issued for 10-foot waves. Immediate port closures remind us: concentrated supply chains optimized for cost carry hidden fragility. After 2011's $210B disaster, some learned. Many haven't. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
70 Nigerians tested near battery recycling plants. 7/10: lead poisoning.
Factories supply Ford, GM, Tesla. US automakers knew 30 years, blocked certification programs.
Supply chain opacity = plausible deniability for everyone. Lead sources mixed during manufacturing. Impossible to trace origins.
Factories supply Ford, GM, Tesla. US automakers knew 30 years, blocked certification programs.
Supply chain opacity = plausible deniability for everyone. Lead sources mixed during manufacturing. Impossible to trace origins.
December 5, 2025 at 1:59 AM
70 Nigerians tested near battery recycling plants. 7/10: lead poisoning.
Factories supply Ford, GM, Tesla. US automakers knew 30 years, blocked certification programs.
Supply chain opacity = plausible deniability for everyone. Lead sources mixed during manufacturing. Impossible to trace origins.
Factories supply Ford, GM, Tesla. US automakers knew 30 years, blocked certification programs.
Supply chain opacity = plausible deniability for everyone. Lead sources mixed during manufacturing. Impossible to trace origins.
Algoma Steel: $500M bailout Sept to save jobs. 1,000 layoffs Dec (40% workforce).
Trump's 50% tariffs shut US market. Lost $500M last quarter. Blast furnace closing 1yr early.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Trump's 50% tariffs shut US market. Lost $500M last quarter. Blast furnace closing 1yr early.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Sault Ste. Marie steel mill issues layoff notices to 1,000 workers | CBC News
Algoma Steel says it has issued 1,000 layoff notices to workers at its plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
www.cbc.ca
December 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Algoma Steel: $500M bailout Sept to save jobs. 1,000 layoffs Dec (40% workforce).
Trump's 50% tariffs shut US market. Lost $500M last quarter. Blast furnace closing 1yr early.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Trump's 50% tariffs shut US market. Lost $500M last quarter. Blast furnace closing 1yr early.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Ethiopia volcano erupts after 12,000 years. Ash: 45,000ft. Flights canceled India/UAE.
400K tons/year
Ethiopian Airlines: biggest cargo operator in Africa
Routes US pharma, electronics, textiles daily
When ash grounds flights 48hrs, cold chain breaks and JIT fails.
400K tons/year
Ethiopian Airlines: biggest cargo operator in Africa
Routes US pharma, electronics, textiles daily
When ash grounds flights 48hrs, cold chain breaks and JIT fails.
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Ethiopia volcano erupts after 12,000 years. Ash: 45,000ft. Flights canceled India/UAE.
400K tons/year
Ethiopian Airlines: biggest cargo operator in Africa
Routes US pharma, electronics, textiles daily
When ash grounds flights 48hrs, cold chain breaks and JIT fails.
400K tons/year
Ethiopian Airlines: biggest cargo operator in Africa
Routes US pharma, electronics, textiles daily
When ash grounds flights 48hrs, cold chain breaks and JIT fails.
Vietnam flooding:
Dak Lak (76% coffee production): harvest stalled
Electronics hubs: Samsung/Foxconn affected
$85B annual US exports delayed
Companies diversified from China to Vietnam. 150cm fell in 72hrs. Roads blocked. Power out. $343M in losses.
Diversification fails when your backup goes down.
Dak Lak (76% coffee production): harvest stalled
Electronics hubs: Samsung/Foxconn affected
$85B annual US exports delayed
Companies diversified from China to Vietnam. 150cm fell in 72hrs. Roads blocked. Power out. $343M in losses.
Diversification fails when your backup goes down.
November 24, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Vietnam flooding:
Dak Lak (76% coffee production): harvest stalled
Electronics hubs: Samsung/Foxconn affected
$85B annual US exports delayed
Companies diversified from China to Vietnam. 150cm fell in 72hrs. Roads blocked. Power out. $343M in losses.
Diversification fails when your backup goes down.
Dak Lak (76% coffee production): harvest stalled
Electronics hubs: Samsung/Foxconn affected
$85B annual US exports delayed
Companies diversified from China to Vietnam. 150cm fell in 72hrs. Roads blocked. Power out. $343M in losses.
Diversification fails when your backup goes down.
ExxonMobil closes Scotland's Mossmorran ethylene plant after 40 years. 400 jobs at risk.
The plant: Losing £1M/week, needs £1B to compete
The impact: UK manufacturers now source from Europe or US (already 10% of supply)
The reality: Higher costs & longer routes.
The plant: Losing £1M/week, needs £1B to compete
The impact: UK manufacturers now source from Europe or US (already 10% of supply)
The reality: Higher costs & longer routes.
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 AM
ExxonMobil closes Scotland's Mossmorran ethylene plant after 40 years. 400 jobs at risk.
The plant: Losing £1M/week, needs £1B to compete
The impact: UK manufacturers now source from Europe or US (already 10% of supply)
The reality: Higher costs & longer routes.
The plant: Losing £1M/week, needs £1B to compete
The impact: UK manufacturers now source from Europe or US (already 10% of supply)
The reality: Higher costs & longer routes.
Graphite One confirmed rare earths at Alaska's Graphite Creek. All five permanent magnet elements for EVs, wind turbines, defense systems.
The catch? China processes 90% of global rare earths and just cut US magnet exports by 93%.
US processing timeline: 15-20 years
Facility costs: $100M-$400M+
The catch? China processes 90% of global rare earths and just cut US magnet exports by 93%.
US processing timeline: 15-20 years
Facility costs: $100M-$400M+
November 17, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Graphite One confirmed rare earths at Alaska's Graphite Creek. All five permanent magnet elements for EVs, wind turbines, defense systems.
The catch? China processes 90% of global rare earths and just cut US magnet exports by 93%.
US processing timeline: 15-20 years
Facility costs: $100M-$400M+
The catch? China processes 90% of global rare earths and just cut US magnet exports by 93%.
US processing timeline: 15-20 years
Facility costs: $100M-$400M+
New Maersk survey shows 78% of companies expect geopolitical disruptions to impact operations for 12-24 more months. The response? 75% are diversifying sourcing geography (vs 53% last year). As one exec put it after 40 years in customs: waiting and doing nothing is the worst response.
November 12, 2025 at 3:41 AM
New Maersk survey shows 78% of companies expect geopolitical disruptions to impact operations for 12-24 more months. The response? 75% are diversifying sourcing geography (vs 53% last year). As one exec put it after 40 years in customs: waiting and doing nothing is the worst response.
The shutdown is over but the supply chain damage isn't. Airlines canceled over 2,000 flights Sunday alone after 40 days of 10% capacity cuts. Electronics components delayed 3 weeks can't make up production schedules. Pharmaceutical shipments that missed temperature windows are lost, not recovered.
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The shutdown is over but the supply chain damage isn't. Airlines canceled over 2,000 flights Sunday alone after 40 days of 10% capacity cuts. Electronics components delayed 3 weeks can't make up production schedules. Pharmaceutical shipments that missed temperature windows are lost, not recovered.
Unprecedented 10% flight cuts at 40 airports starting Friday. Air traffic controllers have worked unpaid for 6 weeks. The cuts phase from 4% to 10% next week—and continue indefinitely. If your supply chain depends on air cargo through major US hubs, those capacity constraints start in 48 hours.
November 6, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Unprecedented 10% flight cuts at 40 airports starting Friday. Air traffic controllers have worked unpaid for 6 weeks. The cuts phase from 4% to 10% next week—and continue indefinitely. If your supply chain depends on air cargo through major US hubs, those capacity constraints start in 48 hours.
AAR's Haeco acquisition came with capacity already sold out for years. The $850M in secured contracts weren't negotiated after the deal. Airlines are booking MRO slots through 2028 because they can't risk not having maintenance capacity. That's not a vendor relationship, that's dependency 🤯
November 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
AAR's Haeco acquisition came with capacity already sold out for years. The $850M in secured contracts weren't negotiated after the deal. Airlines are booking MRO slots through 2028 because they can't risk not having maintenance capacity. That's not a vendor relationship, that's dependency 🤯
GlobalFoundries' €1.1B Dresden expansion isn't about cutting-edge chips. It's about the 22nm+ mature nodes that control brakes, power management, and industrial equipment. The kind Nexperia's disruption just proved critical.
October 31, 2025 at 1:23 AM
GlobalFoundries' €1.1B Dresden expansion isn't about cutting-edge chips. It's about the 22nm+ mature nodes that control brakes, power management, and industrial equipment. The kind Nexperia's disruption just proved critical.
Your Halloween candy costs 10.8% more because 60% of cocoa comes from two countries hit by consecutive climate failures. Manufacturers didn't just raise prices—they reformulated products, reduced cocoa content from 75% to 65%, and shifted to gummies.
October 29, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Your Halloween candy costs 10.8% more because 60% of cocoa comes from two countries hit by consecutive climate failures. Manufacturers didn't just raise prices—they reformulated products, reduced cocoa content from 75% to 65%, and shifted to gummies.
JLR cyberattack became the UK's costliest at $2.5B not because of direct damage to JLR, but because 5,000+ suppliers and logistics providers depended on continuous operations. Many faced bankruptcy within weeks. Just-in-time supply chains eliminate the buffers that once absorbed disruptions.
October 27, 2025 at 2:44 AM
JLR cyberattack became the UK's costliest at $2.5B not because of direct damage to JLR, but because 5,000+ suppliers and logistics providers depended on continuous operations. Many faced bankruptcy within weeks. Just-in-time supply chains eliminate the buffers that once absorbed disruptions.
VW's internal memo: "We cannot rule out production impacts in the short term." The problem? Nexperia supplies 40% of the discrete semiconductors that make everything electronic work. Not just cars—consumer electronics, industrial equipment, telecom. Commodity chips just became the newest chokepoint.
October 24, 2025 at 1:26 AM
VW's internal memo: "We cannot rule out production impacts in the short term." The problem? Nexperia supplies 40% of the discrete semiconductors that make everything electronic work. Not just cars—consumer electronics, industrial equipment, telecom. Commodity chips just became the newest chokepoint.
US-Australia minerals deal isn't about buying resources—it's about owning them. $8.5B in equity stakes to counter China. But here's the problem: companies need supply chain transitions now, while new production takes 5-7 years. The gap between policy and reality just got expensive.
October 22, 2025 at 12:24 AM
US-Australia minerals deal isn't about buying resources—it's about owning them. $8.5B in equity stakes to counter China. But here's the problem: companies need supply chain transitions now, while new production takes 5-7 years. The gap between policy and reality just got expensive.
Nexperia makes the boring chips nobody worries about—transistors, diodes, the components in every car's electrical system. Dutch government seized control. China blocked exports. Automakers have weeks of stock left and months-long qualification for alternatives. This is how supply chains break.
October 20, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Nexperia makes the boring chips nobody worries about—transistors, diodes, the components in every car's electrical system. Dutch government seized control. China blocked exports. Automakers have weeks of stock left and months-long qualification for alternatives. This is how supply chains break.
China just implemented export controls requiring licenses for products with just 0.1% Chinese rare earth content. Given China's 70% control of global supply, this means even a car built in the US and sold in Mexico needs Chinese government approval. #Supplychains face operational paralysis!!!
October 17, 2025 at 4:10 AM
China just implemented export controls requiring licenses for products with just 0.1% Chinese rare earth content. Given China's 70% control of global supply, this means even a car built in the US and sold in Mexico needs Chinese government approval. #Supplychains face operational paralysis!!!
#Stellantis' $13B US investment signals more than automotive reshoring. With tariffs now exceeding production cost gaps, every company with global supply chains faces identical pressure. The ripple effects reach all supplier tiers. Question is whether you're repositioning fast enough.
October 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
#Stellantis' $13B US investment signals more than automotive reshoring. With tariffs now exceeding production cost gaps, every company with global supply chains faces identical pressure. The ripple effects reach all supplier tiers. Question is whether you're repositioning fast enough.