Against this background, FIC Global Inc. which is a Taiwan-listed global technology group, on July 31, 2026 as part of restructuring supply chains took its regional expansion plan in Southeast Asia and world-wide to a new level with two strategic partnerships announced at the ASEAN Conference 2026 in Singapore.

The advanced manufacturing arm of FICG’s – PRO3C signed a MoU with AME Elite Consortium Berhad which is an integrated industrial space solutions provider that is listed in Malaysia. At the same time, FICG additionally entered into a separate MoU with Jurong Town Corporation – JTC, which is Singapore’s industrial master planner as well as infrastructure developer. The two collaborations are part of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone – JS-SEZ Twinning Strategy by FICG, which taps on advanced manufacturing capacities in Johor with regional innovation, strategic procurement, and supply chain management responsibilities in Singapore.

While not based on traditional manufacturing expansion, the project fits in with the long-term vision of FICG to establish a unified cross-border operating model in JS-SEZ. FICG will take advantage of the well-developed manufacturing environment in Malaysia and the strengths of Singapore in technological innovation, international connectivity, talent and supply chain management to improve its comprehensive capabilities when it comes to advanced electronic design and production, strategic procurement, integration of supply chains, innovation and client engagement.

The capabilities of FICG go far beyond semiconductor packaging as well as advanced PCBA. The Group has a global presence and offers advanced electronic design and manufacturing services in a wide variety of uses, which include avionics, communications, automotive, medical and consumer electronics, as well as industrial and marine. The JS-SEZ Twinning Strategy will further strengthen electronics and the ability of the group to serve customers throughout a broad spectrum of technology sectors as well as global markets.

PRO3C is going to continue to build its capacity for manufacturing in Johor as part of its approach to fulfil the growing worldwide demand from AI, data centres, semiconductors, and other advanced technology industries. AME will draw on its expertise as far as integrated industrial park development, customized industrial facilities, and engineering solutions are concerned so as to assist the future manufacturing expansion of PRO3C and the growth of a more comprehensive industrial ecosystem within Malaysia.

FICG will create a Regional Innovation and Supply Chain Centre based in Singapore as the group’s regional hub when it comes to innovation, strategic procurement, supply chain management and customer interaction in Asia-Pacific. Through FICG’s partnership with JTC, it will be able to further accelerate its cross-border integration along the Johor-Singapore corridor and offer better responsiveness to clients in ASEAN as well as beyond.

The cross-border banking capabilities of UOB along with broad regional business network will additionally help promote investment, financial integration and strategic business connectivity throughout the expanding regional operations of FICG.

It is well to be noted that together, Malaysia and Singapore provide a highly complementary framework for advanced technology development. Malaysia has highly competitive capacity for manufacturing, a solid industrial base and a fast-developing technology framework, while Singapore provides global connectivity, global talent, advanced financial infrastructure and a premier innovation culture. FICG’s objective is to capitalise on the strengths of both respective markets to develop a robust regional value chain, improve operational flexibility and deliver more responsive customer support across global technology industries.

The Group’s development roadmap states that the new manufacturing campus of PRO3C in Johor commenced volume production at the end of 2025 and is still ramping up operations. The FICG will celebrate the long-term manufacturing development milestone of the Group in Malaysia’s Grand Opening Ceremony in October 2026.

Interestingly, the Johor manufacturing campus along with the planned Regional Innovation and Supply Chain Centre in Singapore will serve as the cornerstone of the cross-border operating model from FICG, serving customers throughout the ASEAN as well as worldwide markets.

Interestingly, the enlarged facilities in Midwest and Texas build on a U.S. footprint of 64 locations, which, by the way, is the largest and most vast freight forwarding and 3PL network in the country.

According to the CEO at SEKO, Gordon Branov, “It’s been a volatile stretch for logistics in the U.S., and it won’t get simpler anytime soon. However, with disruption comes opportunity, which is why we’re investing through it. Customers need capacity where their freight moves and a partner that’s adding room to grow, not pulling back. That’s what this buildout delivers.”

Midwest – Solidifying a Strategic Pillar

The Midwest is an essential component of SEKO’s U.S. network – and an increasingly popular gateway to its global network. The Chicagoland corridor of SEKO, supported by the U.S. headquarters of the company in Schaumburg and an international gateway close to O’Hare International Airport – ORD, integrates cross-border, regional warehousing, last mile and international freight forwarding within one high-performance hub. SEKO is continuing to grow that presence to support local shippers in these marketplaces and link them to national as well as global accounts.

According to the President of North America Operations, SEKO, Ian Oliver, “North America is central to how SEKO serves customers around the world, and a stronger U.S. operation makes the entire network more capable. With these investments, SEKO is better positioned to serve its local, national and global customers alike — delivering the reliability and service they expect from a global logistics partner as their supply chains evolve.”

Elmhurst, Illinois

83,000 square foot SEKO’s Elmhurst location is a one-of-a-kind, centralized fashion hub for Midwest to support direct-to-consumer – DTC brands that are searching for one node in order to handle both outbound orders and returns with garment-on-hanger functionality.

Mount Prospect, Illinois

This structure adds domestic as well as international capacity near O’Hare, with a cross-dock along with warehousing operations as well as over 44,000 square feet of warehouse capacity. The facility is also home to the TSA-approved air cargo screening operation by SEKO. Mount Prospect is intended to provide the network with additional space when it comes to warehousing, consolidation and specialised client lanes and is placed to assist with an expanding domestic and international freight forwarding operation for Chicago.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

SEKO Elk Grove Village is a 103,000 square foot facility which is located just minutes away from ORD and acts as the Midwest and centralized U.S. node for DTC brands seeking a single node with simple access to Chicago carrier networks.

Cincinnati, Ohio

SEKO Cincinnati increases its presence in one of the most effective distribution markets in the country, located within a one-day drive of most of the U.S. population, offering multimodal access by highway, rail, the Ohio River as well as global air cargo via Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – CVG. The 350,000-square-foot space offers complete air, ocean, ground and customs broking services along with white-glove handling with a background in high-tech and medical as well as aerospace logistics.

Texas and the Southwest: New gateways addressing domestic and international freight

Notably, SEKO is increasing its network in two strategic markets in the state of Texas, which by the way has been the leading U.S. exporting state for the last 24 years, transporting a wide variety of products covering everything from energy to electronics. These facilities expand the capacity for international gateway operations, white-glove services and specialized, time-critical freight on two of the busiest trade corridors of the U.S.

Houston, Texas

The new Houston footprint of SEKO features a 35,000-square-foot built-to-scale facility situated close to George Bush Intercontinental Airport – IAH, a major point of entry for international trade and domestic distribution when it comes to the greater Houston market, which is the fourth most populous U.S. city and also home to a metropolitan area greater in size than a number of states and also the Port of Houston, which apparently is the largest port in the country. The station provides complete domestic and international capabilities with extensive IAH coverage and local cartage, along with white-glove solutions for high-value and specialized goods.

El Paso, Texas

SEKO El Paso is a 24,000 square foot regional distribution as well as speciality logistics hub that serves a 200-mile radius throughout West Texas and southern New Mexico with mission critical and government adjacent corridors that are supported by Fort Bliss, Holloman Air Force Base as well as White Sands Missile Range. Located along the I-10 corridor at one of the most active and busy U.S.-Mexico land-trade gateways, the station offers a standardised white glove service, local cartage, last mile and inside delivery, handling a variety of delicate, valuable, as well as time-critical freight, along with on-site collaboration with setup and project crews as well as schedule flexibility for accelerated shipments.

On July 24, 2026, both the companies executed an MOU so as to build next-generation AI infrastructure at the San Francisco AI Summit, which was hosted by the Korean government in San Francisco.

As part of the agreement, Samsung is going to provide Broadcom an integrated one-stop supply solution that integrates its HBM4 and HBM4E memory and sub-2-nanometer foundry processes as well as advanced packaging technologies for the next-generation AI accelerators as well as high-speed networking chips.

The companies intend to deepen their partnership in the areas of memory, foundry, and packaging in a period of five years.

The partnership is representative of a wider trend in the AI semiconductor market away from the graphics processing unit – GPU-based systems of Nvidia Corp. towards bespoke AI accelerators or application-specific integrated circuits – ASICs being created by big technology companies. The AI semiconductor revenue of Broadcom was $10.8 billion in the 2nd quarter of fiscal 2026, upward 143% YOY.

Broadcom is projected to generate $16 billion in AI chip sales in the third quarter, and customer demand for custom accelerators and AI networking chips is likely to continue to rise.

There is a growing need for manufacturing partners that integrate memory and compute chips as well as advanced packaging into one solution, industry analysts said.

The partnership will likely benefit Samsung in a variety of ways. A broader clientele for HBM might reduce its dependence on a single customer, whereas successful mass production of sub-2-nanometer chips for a key client could demonstrate the manufacturing yields and process reliability of the company, which could help it secure more foundry orders, analysts said.

Also seen as a boost to customer connections beyond sales of individual products is expected to be the combination of memory, foundry manufacturing, and advanced packaging in one offering, and greater collaboration might shorten development cycles while decreasing power consumption.

The partnership has also raised hopes that Samsung might emerge as a replacement to the advanced foundry and packaging ecosystem currently controlled by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. With HBM integration as well as advanced packaging becoming more crucial for performance in general in the AI accelerator market, the entry from Samsung could help minimise manufacturing bottlenecks, decrease supply chain density, and enhance price and delivery rivalry.

An industry official remarked that the partnership to fully integrated chip supply chain sets the stage for Samsung to emerge as an integrated AI semiconductor supplier across memory and foundry, but its performance will rely on customer qualification, advanced packaging capacity, 2-nanometer yields, and of course, final order volumes.

This follows a rare-earth cooperation deal signed by both the companies in March 2026. Lynas is essentially the only company beyond China that is capable of producing rare earth raw materials on a commercial level. To build rare earth supply chain in addition to the rare earth itself are vital for advanced industries like defense when it comes to missiles, aircraft and radar, electric vehicles, robots as well as wind power generation.

The partnership foundation created a long-term alignment of objectives between the two companies and secured a steady supply of raw materials to build rare earth supply chain business, stated LS Eco Energy.

The tightening of export controls by China on rare earths is creating a supply chain diversification challenge for the United States and Europe. The demand for non-Chinese rare earths is increasing quickly, even if the buyers have to spend more to ensure supply stability. According to CEO of LS Eco Energy, Sangho Rhee, “This investment is a strategic decision that shows Lynas and LS Eco Energy’s strong commitment to growing the rare earth business together. We will lead the global market based on a stable raw material supply chain.”

This development will enhance the capacities and access point network of DP World in the UAE, providing customers more options, convenience, and high-quality connectivity throughout international and regional trade routes.

The project will create a new deep-water trade gateway on the east coast of the UAE that will be able to accommodate the most recent generation of ultra-large container vessels. Al Rugaylat is scheduled to have a total capacity of 2.5 million TEUs per year, 1.7 million tonnes of general cargo, as well as 190,000 Car Equivalent Units – CEUs, and Dibba will provide an additional 3.6 million tonnes of yearly general cargo capacity.

The new Fujairah terminals in the UAE expand on Fujairah’s expanding position as a global maritime hub. Located on the Gulf of Oman, Fujairah is set to become a major hub to feed maritime services, and the construction of ports and logistics zones will deliver additional investment, job opportunities, and long-term economic potential to the emirate.

When fully operational, the development will take the total container handling capacity of DP World in the UAE to almost 22 million TEUs from 19.4 million TEUs and significantly improve general freight and Ro-Ro capacity.

The new Fujairah terminals in the UAE will link with Jafza via the inland logistics network of DP World, connecting with Jebel Ali and expanding the end-to-end supply chain of DP World throughout the UAE, allowing customers to transport cargo more effectively between ports and logistics hubs as well as end markets. Construction is projected to take roughly 24 to 30 months from its inception, with progress delivered in stages.

According to the Chairman, Fujairah Ports Authority, H.H. Sheikh Saleh Bin Mohamed Al Sharqi, “The partnership with DP World marks an important milestone in Fujairah’s continued development as one of the region’s most important maritime gateways. The Al Rugaylat and Dibba terminals will bring world-class operating capability, expanded capacity, and new investment to the emirate. We look forward to working with DP World to deliver a project that will benefit customers, communities, and the UAE’s wider economy.”

H.E. Essa Kazim, the Chairman of DP World, opined that “The UAE has been at the heart of DP World’s story for more than four decades, and this investment reflects our confidence in its future as one of the world’s leading trade and logistics hubs. Building on the strength of Jebel Ali, this development deepens our commitment to the UAE and reinforces the country’s strategic role in global trade.”

The Group Chief Executive Officer, DP World, Yuvraj Narayan, said that “Fujairah strengthens what Jebel Ali already delivers — a single, global integrated platform for moving goods across global supply chains and within the UAE and beyond. With Jebel Ali operating at high utilization, this development provides the additional capacity to support long-term growth. For cargo owners, it means greater flexibility, more choice and stronger supply chain resilience.”

H.E. Capt. Mousa Murad, the managing director of Fujairah Ports Authority, remarked that “this development will add significant new capability to Fujairah’s port infrastructure and enhance the range and quality of services we can offer to cargo owners and logistics customers. By combining Fujairah’s strategic location with DP World’s operating expertise, we aim to deliver modern, efficient terminals that support regional trade flows, strengthen connectivity, and meet the highest international standards.”

The collaboration builds on a longstanding partnership between the two companies and fuses the expertise of Fortinet in proprietary, purpose-built security processing with advanced design as well as packaging and manufacturing capabilities from Intel to speed up and bolster SP6 development.

This work will also help make global supply chain robust of Fortinet.

As the threat scenario evolves rapidly, security infrastructure has to offer both performance and creativity at scale, said the CEO of Intel, Lip-Bu Tan. He further added that “This collaboration demonstrates how Intel’s semiconductor leadership and advanced design, packaging, and manufacturing capabilities can help cybersecurity leaders like Fortinet accelerate the development of critical security technologies while building a more resilient and diversified global supply chain.”

Ken Xie, founder, chairman, and CEO of Fortinet, remarked that “Fortinet’s purpose-built ASICs have been a key differentiator for more than two decades, enabling us to deliver the security effectiveness, performance, and efficiency our customers demand. This expanded relationship with Intel will leverage its unique combination of advanced semiconductor technology, manufacturing expertise, and global supply chain capabilities, helping Fortinet accelerate and strengthen our ASIC strategy while also better supporting organizations all over the world.”

This partnership leverages Fortinet’s leading position when it comes to purpose-built security processors along with Intel’s broad portfolio of ecosystem IP, established expertise in dispersed semiconductor design, and cutting-edge packaging solutions for AI-enabled as well as cost-sensitive applications to offer a highly integrated security processor so as to support more sophisticated security services and the high-level performance requirements of modern organizations.

Apparently, the companies will look for new opportunities to further develop collaboration in fields including semiconductor technology, manufacturing, and the infrastructure required for future cybersecurity innovations. The work is anticipated to speed up the long-term ASIC roadmap of Fortinet, delivering additional performance and service depth as well as make global supply chain robust throughout the globe.

The deployment covers over 1,000 sites in roughly 100 countries and is one of the largest warehouse operational transformations in the logistics sector.

The transformation is supported by the platform, based on the Warehouse Management Solution from Blue Yonder, a component of the company’s Cognitive Solutions. This integrates KN SwiftLOG into one cloud-based environment while remaining the proven warehouse management system by Kuehne+Nagel.

The worldwide roll-out started in April 2026 and is being carried out in phases to provide continuity of service. It can scale across operations and assists in handling growing supply chain complexity and changing customer requirements as the implementation moves forward.

According to Executive Vice President, Contract Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel, Eduardo Razuck, “Evolving KN SwiftLOG into a cloud-native logistics platform allows us to connect operations, data, and workflows more effectively across locations. As supply chains become more complex, improving efficiency remains a key driver for adopting cloud-based solutions. This shift supports consistent execution at scale and helps us respond more quickly to customer requirements while maintaining reliable service delivery.”

The platform combines warehouse activities alongside data-driven insights and intelligent automation to promote more effective, coordinated activities throughout the network. That gives you better planning, greater visibility, and a faster reaction to disruptions.

When it comes to customers, this means consistency in delivery across locations and the consistent operation they enjoy presently. Moving to one cloud-based platform assists in standardizing operations between sites and streamlining operations for customers that are served in various nations. The first customer deployment in Asia is scheduled to be live in July 2026.

Duncan Angove, CEO of Blue Yonder, says that “Together, Kuehne+Nagel and its customers will benefit from AI-enabled execution and next-generation operating practices that increase productivity, speed, and agility. The future of the supply chain belongs to those who can standardize globally, decide faster, and adapt at the speed of disruption.”

It is worth noting that Rhenus offers sustainable warehousing services in Philippines, which include storage, transportation, fulfilment and value-added services that promote local business operations. The service encompasses the application of a fully electric Material Handling Equipment – MHE fleet when it comes to customers and established warehouse processes that are intended to reduce waste.

Apparently, the engagement reinforces continued commitment by Rhenus in terms of assisting customers in the Philippines with advanced warehousing capabilities and a strong logistics operation.

According to the Regional Head, Rhenus Warehousing Solutions, APAC, Marcus Fornell, “Strategic collaborations are a key part of our regional strategy to actively expand our footprint and product portfolio. With logistics needs in the Philippines continuing to evolve, we look forward to pursuing active growth and setting new standards for logistics solutions in the markets that we are in.”

Rhenus has continued to invest in the country, recently opening a new warehouse facility in Parañaque and establishing a new head office in Pasay.

Says the managing director of Rhenus Warehousing Solutions Philippines, Deepak Sharma, “Rhenus is committed to continually investing in the Philippines as we strengthen our local logistics capabilities. This marks another step in supporting the market’s evolving needs through reliable operations, modern facilities, and solutions tailored to customers in the country.”

The Bosch Group has appointed Rhenus as a preferred supplier for overland services. Bosch has awarded this status to those businesses and service providers who have consistently delivered outstanding performance in their respective fields over a long period of time.

Remarks Global Strategic Account Manager, Rhenus, Ricardo Almeida: “Our longstanding business relationship with Bosch reflects our shared focus on operational excellence and reliable logistics support. As supply chains continue to evolve globally, and as ​​markets​​ such as the Philippines ​become​ increasingly important in regional growth, we remain focused on delivering reliable and efficient logistics solutions tailored to local business needs.”

Samson Electrical Supply, formed in 1949, caters to commercial, institutional, industrial, residential, and utility customers from its facilities in South Plainfield, New Jersey.

It is well to be noted that the company distributes lighting systems, electrical products, and power distribution equipment along with maintenance, repair, and operations supplies.

Samson will continue operating as a Graybar subsidiary after the acquisition but will keep the Samson Electrical Supply name, current staff members, and supplier connections.

With Graybar to buy Samson Electrical Supply, the new structure will be designed to protect the customer relationships and local operating reputation that the latter has built over 75 years while offering access to the larger distribution network and resources of Graybar.

The acquisition will further solidify Graybar’s presence in New Jersey while strengthening its potential to serve customers all over the region. The strong customer base and local market knowledge of Samson will enhance the wider product portfolio, supply chain capacity, and logistics framework of Graybar.

Apparently, electrical distributors are the link between manufacturers and industrial operators, contractors, utilities, property developers, and other organizations needing standard equipment for construction, upkeep, and modernization projects.

The fact is that distributors are key to customers not just for having the products they require, but also for assistance with technical issues, inventory management, shipping, and overall supply chain support.

Samson offers products for standard electrical installations, construction systems, lighting tasks, industrial processes, and utility facilities.

Its repair, upkeep, and operations abilities also benefit customers looking to procure substitute products and supplies so as to keep facilities and equipment functioning properly.

Graybar is a distributor of electrical, industrial, and automation as well as connectivity products from many different manufacturers.

The company also offers supply chain management and logistics solutions to assist customers in the sourcing of products, inventory management, and the delivery of supplies to project locations and operational facilities.

Graybar operates over 355 distribution facilities throughout North America.

Samson adds this network to the New Jersey company and gives Graybar the opportunity to capitalize on its existing connections with local customers as well as suppliers. According to the president of Samson, Michael Cohen, this combination will allow them to maintain the values that have guided their operations and gain extra capabilities along with growth opportunities.

Interestingly, keeping the name and team of Samson could help ensure consistency for customers and employees after the deal.

Graybar’s proposed acquisition of Samson is the third acquisition of 2026 for the company. The company purchased the Broken Arrow Electric Supply in March 2026 and the American Electric Supply in May 2026.

The deals are part of the continued strategy followed by Graybar of geographic expansion and enhancement of capabilities by acquiring reputable and established regional distributors.

Such businesses can provide Graybar with rapid access to local customer connections and experienced workforces as well as supplier networks that might require longer to set up naturally.

Graybar is a Fortune 500 company, and it is one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America.

As a matter of fact, its employee ownership arrangement offers eligible employees a financial stake in the company and is capable of backing a strategic approach to operations, investment, and customer relationships.

The deal is contingent upon the satisfaction of typical closing requirements. Upon fulfillment of the transaction, Samson will be a part of the broader distribution and logistical organization of Graybar and is going to retain its current brand.

As per the chair, president, and CEO of Graybar, “Samson Electrical Supply is a highly regarded company with a strong customer focus and deep roots in New Jersey. This acquisition expands Graybar’s presence in the region and enhances our ability to serve customers. We look forward to welcoming the Samson team to Graybar and working together to achieve success.”

Remarks the president of Samson Electrical Supply, Michael Cohen, “Samson and Graybar share a long-term commitment to our customers, employees, and suppliers. Joining Graybar allows us to preserve the values that have defined Samson for generations while providing access to additional resources, capabilities, and growth opportunities. We are excited about what this means for the future of our company, our employees, and those we serve.”

The network upgrade will also help the company accomplish the extra $1 billion in savings it seeks through improvements in business procedures and innovative solutions to technology and operating models, McNabb stated.

According to Jeffrey Harmening, Chairman and CEO, “These savings are critical to help offset inflation, to fund our growth investments, and to support stronger earnings and cash flow over time.”

The company aims to save $750 million in the present fiscal year, which began May 26.

The supply chain overhaul of General Mills comes accompanied by employee changes. McNabb was elevated to COO in June, with responsibility for innovation along with the supply chain. The company added “change” to Chief Digital and Technology Officer Jaime Montemayor’s designation earlier in 2026.

Demand planning is under stress because consumers are less predictable, which is causing shifts in supply chains throughout the consumer packaged goods industry, a partner in West Monroe’s supply chain practice, Jeremy Tancredi, pointed out in an email.

According to Tancredi, “To stay in sync with the ever-changing market, CPG companies need to rethink their entire supply chain to enable faster decision-making and improve flexibility.”

Packaging agility, among the primary goals of supply chain modernisation of General Mills, has also become increasingly crucial for CPGs to facilitate omnichannel distribution, Tancredi said.

Tancredi adds that “packaging increasingly needs to be optimized for multiple logistics models and channel-specific assortments to help minimize costs.”

Other CPG companies that have carried out supply chain changes or large tech upgrades to minimise costs and enhance operations consist of Procter & Gamble, which implemented its supply chain overhaul across the company in 2026.

In the meantime, Clorox is moving its U.S. supply chain and additional operations to a new ERP system, and Nestlé is switching to SAP S/4HANA partially to leverage AI to make procurement, supply chain management, and order fulfilment more efficient.