Frack to Plastic, Barrel Bounce Back, & Rare Earthquake Ahead

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Good morning from The Workday Dash — where the headlines are fracking intense, the oil’s on a rebound, and China just sent a not-so-friendly post-it. 💥🛢️📦

Here’s what’s fueling the freight world today:

1️⃣ Over 25 household-name brands (yeah, those ones—Coca-Cola, P&G, Nestlé) are tied to fracking in Texas’ Permian Basin, per a fresh Stand.earth report. That plastic packaging? It might come with an underground origin story.

2️⃣ Oil bounced back after a Monday slump—Brent’s up 2.6%, WTI climbed over 3%. Turns out, sanctions and stock market optimism make a spicy combo.

3️⃣ China’s flexing its rare earth muscle, telling South Korean companies not to send mineral-laced goods to U.S. defense firms… or else. Welcome to geopolitics: logistics edition.

So grab your coffee and your compliance officer—today’s supply chain has layers.

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“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

— Stephen Covey

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Plastics, Fracking & Big Brands: The Hidden Link Supply Chains Can’t Ignore

A new deep-dive from Stand.earth just connected the dots between over 25 major brands—think Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestlé, and Procter & Gamble—and fracking operations in Texas’ Permian Basin. Why does that matter? Because fracking produces ethane, and ethane fuels a lot of plastic production. That plastic ends up in the products we ship, the packaging we handle, and—ultimately—our oceans and ecosystems.

Sure, brands are touting recycling efforts, but critics say it doesn’t mean much if they’re still creating new plastic from fossil fuels. It’s a classic case of greenwashing vs. real change.

✅ Why It Matters:
If your business touches packaging, freight, or fulfillment, you’re in this ecosystem. ESG expectations are rising, and sustainability audits aren’t just a nice-to-have anymore—they’re becoming standard. The fracking-to-plastics pipeline is under the microscope, and your supply chain could be next.

🔥 Hot Take:
Fast shipping might be convenient—but the carbon cost could be buried in Texas shale.

📰 Full story via Yahoo

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Oil Bounces Back on Sanctions, Market Rally

After a rough Monday, oil bounced back in a big way—Brent’s up 2.6% and WTI jumped over 3%, landing around $65. The driver? New U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports and a rebound in the stock market gave crude prices a second wind.

If Iran’s nuclear talks with the U.S. go sideways, analysts warn we could be looking at near-zero oil exports from Tehran—a big blow to global supply. Add in investor optimism around corporate earnings (and a bit of market drama courtesy of President Trump’s comments on Jerome Powell), and you’ve got yourself a volatile energy cocktail.

But don’t get too comfy—global tariffs, slower economic outlooks from the IMF, and shifting oil stockpiles could keep pressure on prices.

✅ Why It Matters:

Fuel cost swings don’t just hit gas stations—they hit the entire freight game. From fuel surcharges to routing decisions, oil volatility = planning headaches.

🔥 Hot Take:

Oil shocks aren't just headlines—they’re line items. If you’re in logistics, now’s the time to tighten up your fuel strategy.

📰 Full story via Reuters

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China Just Played the Rare Earth Card

China’s now pressuring South Korean companies not to export products containing Chinese rare earth minerals to U.S. defense firms—and the message came with a not-so-subtle warning: break the rule, face the sanctions. This impacts key sectors like EVs, batteries, aerospace, and medical tech—all of which lean heavy on rare earths.

This is part of Beijing’s broader pushback against rising U.S. tariffs, turning critical minerals into leverage. For the rest of us? It’s another curveball for global supply chains already juggling delays, inflation, and shifting trade routes.

✅ Why It Matters:

If rare earths get bottlenecked, so do EVs, semiconductors, transformers—you name it. Logistics pros should be watching this closely, especially if your operations touch anything with high-tech parts or components.

🔥 Hot Take:

You can have the trucks, but if the tech’s stuck in customs or can’t get built… nobody’s going anywhere.

Read more at Reuters >

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