Technology policy, fulfilment models, and capacity challenges drove key supply chain developments during January.
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) joined the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative to secure AI and semiconductor supply chains. The focus will be on critical minerals, manufacturing and data infrastructure.
Wing and Walmart are expanding drone delivery to over 40 million customers across 150 stores. Plans are to reach 270 locations by 2027, enhancing last-mile logistics.
Intel faces supply constraints for AI data center chips amid global memory shortages. We anticipate supply improvements by Q2. These shortages would impact the data centre and PC markets.
The U.S. Postal Service launched a new bidding platform for last-mile delivery. This permits customers to access more than 18,000 delivery units and customise service agreements.
Firms and policymakers are increasingly focusing on securing supply chains. Companies are adopting new delivery models and addressing capacity challenges to meet the growing demand.
The new year dawned with a series of supply chain developments. They were tied to technology, manufacturing and delivery operations. Governments moved to tighten oversight of critical technologies. Also included are retailers continuing to test faster fulfilment models, besides manufacturers working through ongoing supply and capacity challenges. Firms pushed forward with new delivery options, while policymakers focused on securing sensitive supply chains. Logistics providers have made adjustments to the pricing and management of last-mile access. We are reviewing some of the supply chain-related news that made headlines last month.
Qatar and the UAE have partnered in a U.S.-led initiative focused on securing AI and semiconductor supply chains, according to eWeek. Known as Pax Silica, the initiative focuses on safeguarding the end-to-end technology supply chain. The chain includes critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing and data infrastructure.
Pax Silica was introduced last year in December 2025. It’s members include Australia, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, and the UK. Companies like ASML, Rio Tinto, and Samsung have also been integrated into the ecosystem. This list is according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
This model indicates growing concern over the vulnerability of global technology supply chains. Particularly, the perception of semiconductors and AI-related infrastructure as strategic assets with implications for national security is growing.
Unlike traditional military or political alliances, Pax Silica is structured around economic and industrial capacity. This is rather than shared defence commitments, as reported by eWeek. It was further stated that membership is determined by what each country can contribute across the technology value chain. Such contributions would include raw materials and manufacturing expertise for research, data infrastructure and market access.
Wing and Walmart intend to expand their drone delivery model to an additional 150 stores over the next year. This extends the service to more than 40 million customers nationwide. According to Wing, the expansion builds upon existing operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Metro Atlanta. Drone delivery at these locations has moved beyond pilot status into regular use.
The firms intend to have 270 drone delivery locations in place by next year, in 2027. This would include Los Angeles, Miami, St Louis, Cincinnati, and other new markets.
Walmart sees drone delivery as a practical extension of its existing fulfilment strategy. It added that as they work together to rewire the retail delivery experience, this expansion builds on the success of their operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Metro Atlanta. Customers have made drone delivery a normal part of their everyday lives, says Wing, noting that 25% of customers order three times a week. However, their delivery volume has tripled over the last 6 months.
Meanwhile, Intel is struggling to keep up with AI-driven demand for its data center chips, which is due to supply constraints, according to Reuters. After years of sitting out the AI boom that transformed Nvidia into the world’s most valuable company, Intel, it says, is eventually benefiting from a demand surge for its traditional server chips, which are deployed alongside advanced graphics processors in data centers.
