en.Wedoany.com Reported - A new Supreme Court ruling on outsourcing in light transport has changed industry operating rules, while ongoing global geopolitical instability, energy price fluctuations, and their impact on logistics activities have become focal points. The World Bank warns that if the Strait of Hormuz is closed, energy prices will rise by 24% in 2026, with disruptions peaking in May and expected to normalize by year-end; Spanish industry has placed advance orders and built up inventories to mitigate supply chain risks potentially arising from the Iran conflict.
In air cargo, early May holidays boosted April freight volumes, while the Iran war drove prices up by 28%. Spanish airport air cargo volumes rebounded in April, growing over 5% year-on-year. Rising energy prices are impacting chemical industry production; if the Strait of Hormuz reopens in May, global chemical output in 2026 will grow by only 0.6%; if it remains closed until September, output will decline by 1.7%. On digital transformation, a McKinsey Global Institute report indicates that artificial intelligence could automate 59% of working hours in Spain, applied to direct supply chain management, administrative tasks, finance, and procurement. Cadena de Suministro held the second Digitaliza’26 event in Madrid, exploring the impact of digitalization on decision-making processes, operational management, and corporate culture.
In corporate developments, Amazon has launched Amazon Supply Chain Services, offering logistics services including transportation, warehousing, sorting, and parcel delivery. DHL shareholders renamed the parent company and spun off its subsidiary DHL Post & Parcel Germany as an independent entity; Geopost already operates 150,000 pickup points and smart lockers across Europe. The CTT and DHL eCommerce joint venture began operations this month, managing distribution operations in Spain and Portugal. Ikea initiated a structural simplification plan, cutting 850 jobs, primarily in Sweden. AD Ports acquired German MBS Logistics for €70 million, strengthening its subsidiary Noatum Logistics' capabilities in Central Europe.
DHL, FedEx, and UPS are concerned that a new €3 tax on low-cost parcels set for July will create new bottlenecks and are calling for a phased implementation. GLS strengthened its European non-home delivery network by acquiring French company Relais Colis. Uber increased its stake in Germany's Delivery Hero to 19.5%, amid legal changes facing food delivery platforms; Delivery Hero shareholders expressed dissatisfaction with Uber's €33-per-share acquisition offer, and a new bidder has emerged. In Spain, Uber Eats agreed to pay a €110 million fine for failing to pay social security contributions for 60,000 falsely self-employed workers; its subsidiary Glovo reached an agreement with unions to lay off 436 delivery riders and negotiate severance packages.
Mercadona invested €19.5 million to build a logistics center in Palma de Mallorca, which will serve its online channel on the island starting in 2027. The company will also develop a new cold storage warehouse in the Júndiz logistics park for €14 million.
Ontime launched a new temperature-controlled small pharmaceutical product transport service in the healthcare logistics sector, incorporated Murcia-based cold chain transport company Campillo Palmera as a subsidiary, and opened a new pharmaceutical facility in Chiloeches. Savino Del Bene strengthened its position in the Iberian logistics market by acquiring three companies from Grupo Marítima Sureste. Grupo Alonso launched a new freight forwarding company, Genius Forwarding, headquartered in Madrid; Condis resumed operations outside Catalonia after acquiring eight supermarkets, three logistics platforms, and a shopping center from Binipreu in the Balearic Islands. Boyacá became the sole shareholder of Logista Publicaciones, relocating the company's registered office to Loeches and changing its name. Grupo Europlátano inaugurated a new logistics platform in the town of Orozco, Biscay; Bancosol, with support from the Malaga provincial government, strengthened its charitable logistics capabilities by building a new cold storage warehouse. Uvesco will invest €200 million in technologies to improve logistics management and point-of-sale efficiency; EGD Logistics took over the operation of Leroy Merlin's new logistics platform in Antequera; Andino Inversiones Global has been listed on the BME Growth index and has also traded on the Euronext Access+ segment in Paris since 2024. Transgourmet invested €11 million in Mercabarna to build a new three-temperature-zone logistics platform and a new wholesale supermarket for the hospitality sector; Transaher built a new multi-client logistics warehouse in Alcalá de Henares, strengthening its logistics network in the Madrid region; Redur's new platform in Cantabria is now operational.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
