Supply

• Intel shares surged up to 11% following reports of a potential chip production pact with Apple, bolstered by a social media post from Donald Trump. • The deal centers on Intel's 18A-P risk production process, focusing on co-development and secure environments to prevent intellectual property leakage. • This partnership could significantly shift the AI supply-chain landscape by reducing Apple's reliance on external foundries and boosting Intel's foundry business.

Supplier Agratas sacks its main building contractor on the government-backed project amid a budget mismatchJaguar Land Rover faces the risk of delays to the first deliveries of electric car batteries from a £5.2bn government-backed factory in Somerset after construction problems.The British carmaker is planning to rely on the Agratas factory in Bridgwater, Somerset, to supply the batteries for its new electric models. Agratas and JLR are owned by the Indian industrial conglomerate Tata. Continue reading...

• Taiwan's listed semiconductor and electronics companies reported robust revenue growth in May 2026, driven primarily by the AI supply chain. • Server makers and memory chip providers saw triple-digit gains, highlighting a structural reordering of the sector's top earners. • The data reveals a widening performance gap between companies benefiting from AI infrastructure and those tied to legacy consumer electronics.

• NASA and international partners are preparing for the departure of the 34th SpaceX Dragon resupply spacecraft from the International Space Station. • The mission focuses on returning critical scientific research samples and hardware to Earth for further analysis. • This operation supports the ongoing effort of continuous human habitation aboard the station, which has lasted for over 25 years.

Cold storage and logistics body warns food supplies at risk from fuel shortages, cyber attacks and extreme weatherMinisters have been accused of being complacent about the risks to vital supplies of food into the UK amid concerns over fuel shortages, cyber attacks and extreme weather.The trade body for cold storage and logistics has urged the government to make potential disruption to the UK’s food system an “immediate national priority”. Continue reading...

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Taipei starting May 23, using a series of high-profile dinners and social events to engage with the AI ecosystem. • The trip culminated in a gathering of over 30 top executives, illustrating the complex and interconnected supply chain required to sustain Nvidia's trillion-dollar valuation. • These interactions highlight the critical strategic partnerships between Nvidia and Taiwanese hardware manufacturers necessary for scaling AI infrastructure.

• The European Central Bank's (ECB) May 2026 Financial Stability Review warns that conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant energy supply shock. • This geopolitical instability is driving up inflation risks and threatening overall economic growth across the region. • The report highlights increased vulnerabilities within non-bank financial institutions and sovereign debt markets due to prolonged fiscal challenges.