Procurement
Ryder's 2026 e-commerce consumer study shows a shift in packaging priorities: sustainability and premium unboxing experiences are gaining importance, while value-seeking has declined. Boxes remain preferred over mailer bags, but reasons have evolved, with eco-friendliness up six points. Discounts still lead loyalty drivers but have dropped, while packaging sustainability rose. Returnless refunds also emerge as a key loyalty factor.
U.S. President Trump signed an executive order on June 3, 2026, to strengthen customs enforcement. The new rules will impose stricter asset and disclosure requirements on foreign record importers and raise minimum fines. Experts advise cargo owners to assess IOR arrangements in advance, enhance supply chain visibility, and watch for rising compliance costs.
The latest ISM report shows that the U.S. August manufacturing PMI was 54.6%, marking the eighth consecutive month of expansion but down 1 percentage point from July. The new orders index fell by 3 percentage points, while the prices index remained flat at a high of 71.1%. Surveyed companies generally cited uncertainties brought by the Iran war, tariffs, and supply chain disruptions. The ISM committee chair stated that this is the first time seeing declines of more than 3 percentage points in three important areas, signaling the start of warning signs.
Kitchenware and home goods retailer Williams-Sonoma disclosed in its second-quarter earnings report that it plans to share part of the approximately $200 million in tariff refunds it has received with suppliers and employees. Of this, $47.5 million will be used to compensate suppliers for discounts provided during the International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs, and an additional $10 million will be contributed as a one-time payment to some employees' 401(k) accounts.
In its FY2026 ESG report, Walmart confirmed that it did not meet some of its 2025 private brand packaging sustainability goals. Data shows that the proportion of recyclable/reusable/industrially compostable packaging decreased from 68.2% in FY2024 to 66.1% in FY2025 and 64.3% in FY2026; virgin plastic usage remains higher than the FY2021 baseline, but the increase has narrowed; the proportion of PCR content has continued to rise. The company stated that it will continue to advance packaging optimization and listed three guiding principles.
ADM announced on its August 4 earnings call that it will invest approximately $100 million to expand four US oilseed crushing plants, expected to be completed by 2028 or 2029, aiming to meet growing demand for renewable fuels and vegetable oils.
Birkenstock executives stated during the August 13 earnings call that global manufacturing capacity expansion is progressing as planned to support the goal of achieving 10% annual production growth by 2027. The expansion and renovation projects involve factories in Germany and Portugal.
In a comment letter posted on X, U.S. Ambassador Andrew Puzder calls on the EU to deliver on promises made in the August 2025 trade framework agreement by making additional changes to the CSDDD and CSRD. The U.S. argues that current reforms fail to address its concerns about extraterritorial reach and undue burdens on American businesses.
美国众议院近60名议员（42名共和党人、16名民主党人）致函商务部长霍华德·卢特尼克，要求调查国内原铝销售中的“定价异常”。议员们指出，中西部溢价（MWP）将特朗普政府的50%铝关税成本转嫁给包括饮料行业在内的国内制造商，即使其使用国产或再生铝也无法豁免。铝业协会、啤酒协会等机构对此表态不一，标普全球普氏则否认相关指控。
Honeywell Aerospace is working to resolve supplier performance issues to unlock production capacity. CEO James Currier stated during the August 5 earnings call that about 2% of its roughly 3,000 suppliers underperformed in the first half, hindering an 8% year-over-year increase in orders. The company has added supply sources for over 50 constrained parts and plans to add 50 more in the second half, while increasing capital expenditures to enhance supplier capacity.