Every week, Rinchem shares important articles and topics about chemical and gas logistics, industries we operate in, and the general global supply chain. In this week's update we talk more semiconductor tariffs, site selection best practices, and logistics and transportation trends.
Keep reading to see this week's hot topics.
This week's stats
$600 billion- Apple's commitment to domestic investment over the next 4 years Reuters
7.23%- decrease in private fleet investment in relation to total transportation spend, down from 15% Logistics Management
Trump to impose tariffs on semiconductor imports from firms not moving production to US
President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose tariffs on semiconductor imports from companies that have not relocated production to the United States, signaling a major push to bolster domestic manufacturing. Companies that are already investing or planning to build U.S. production facilities—such as Apple, which has pledged $600 billion over four years—will be exempt. This move aligns with his broader trade strategy of using tariffs as leverage, although the policy faces legal hurdles, with Trump’s administration seeking Supreme Court approval under emergency powers following earlier court setbacks.
Site Selection Best Practices: Location, Location…Logistics
In “Site Selection Best Practices: Location, Location … Logistics” (July 2025), Tom Gresham underscores that choosing a warehouse or distribution center location is one of the most impactful decisions for supply chain efficiency—requiring a detailed, data-driven evaluation of over 70 factors including transportation access, labor availability, utilities, facility capabilities, and future scalability. The article emphasizes that successful site selection demands a holistic approach: analyzing transportation networks (rail, road, ports), facility suitability (including power needs and internal logistics flow), workforce dynamics, and even the strategic weighing of incentives—followed by integrating cross-functional perspectives to anticipate long-term growth and avoid costly mistakes.
Annual Study of Logistics and Transportation Trends: The great disconnect
The 33rd Annual Study of Logistics and Transportation Trends highlights that the logistics industry is navigating increasing complexity across market conditions, regulation, technology, and talent. Transportation spending has shifted, with investment in private fleets halving—from nearly 15% to 7.2%—while intermodal transport reached its highest share in a decade. Technological adoption is accelerating, particularly for back-office automation (54% using or implementing) along with safety, predictive forecasting, and route optimization tools; these have delivered tangible results—84% of respondents reported improved efficiency and 76% saw higher employee productivity. Yet, the sector also faces escalating regulatory costs—64% say regulations increased operational costs by 1–10%, and 21% report increases of 10% or more. Talent remains a critical challenge with widespread hiring gaps, and notably, fewer industry professionals are “strongly agreeing” they’d recommend a logistics career, indicating waning workforce enthusiasm.
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