Latest procurement and supply chain signals
NCSC: Cisco flaw exploited, PAN-OS patch now available
High · technologie_cyber · 15 Oct 2026
The Dutch NCSC warns of a serious, actively exploited vulnerability in Cisco Secure Email Gateway and urges immediate updating. Palo Alto Networks has released security updates for an actively exploited high-severity PAN-OS RCE zero-day.
Recommendation: Within 7 days, ask IT service providers and managed service partners for written confirmation that the Cisco and PAN-OS updates have been deployed. Check whether patch SLAs and notification duties in contracts cover actively exploited vulnerabilities.
IEA weighs extra stock release; NL wants to hold back
High · energie_brandstoffen · 15 Oct 2026
The IEA meets on Thursday 15 October to decide whether countries should release more oil and oil products from emergency stocks. The Netherlands wants to preserve its reserves, but pressure is growing. Brent is back above $106 as Iran intensifies attacks on tankers near Hormuz. Prices then eased on reports that Trump is considering easing sanctions on shadow fleet tankers.
Recommendation: Review fuel surcharge clauses in transport and lease contracts: which diesel index applies and how often is it revised? Within a week of the IEA outcome, decide whether to fix part of your Q4/Q1 fuel volume.
Lithium prices slump after EU-China trade deal
Medium · grondstoffen_materialen · 15 Oct 2026
Lithium prices have fallen sharply following a trade deal between the European Union and China, as the market fears weaker demand.
Recommendation: Check whether current contracts for batteries, storage or the EV fleet include a raw-material index and request pass-through of lower lithium prices at renegotiation. Have it verified which of your Chinese imports fall under the EU-China deal.
Chemical tanker hit by suspected drone in Romanian waters
Medium · transport_supplychain · 15 Oct 2026
A chemical tanker has reported a suspected drone strike inside Romanian territorial waters. NATO's Black Sea flank is on alert after a series of attacks.
Recommendation: Identify which chemical and steel flows run through Black Sea ports and check war-risk and force majeure clauses in freight and supply contracts. Ask suppliers about alternative loading ports.
AH shelves still partly empty Thursday, restocking picks up
Medium · leveranciersrisico · 15 Oct 2026
Several Albert Heijn stores still had empty shelves on Thursday, including in fresh produce, although restocking has increased.
Recommendation: Suppliers to Albert Heijn: align delivery planning and stock shelf life this week to absorb catch-up demand without waste. Retail buyers: include recovery and recovery-time agreements for IT outages in logistics contracts.
Refrigeration hack hit 700 supermarkets via outdated kit
Medium · technologie_cyber · 15 Oct 2026
A hack on refrigeration equipment at 700 supermarkets cost millions and caused fires. According to the analysis, the attackers exploited outdated devices that were openly exposed to the internet.
Recommendation: Within 30 days, have installers and service providers report which refrigeration and building management systems are reachable from the internet and which run outdated firmware. Add minimum requirements for updates, access control and incident notification when renewing contracts.
Asia-Europe container rates down, delays persist
Medium · transport_supplychain · 15 Oct 2026
Container freight rates from Asia to Europe have fallen significantly since July. Deliveries are still being delayed, however, and rates continue to fluctuate.
Recommendation: Use the lower spot levels in ongoing 2027 ocean freight tenders. Secure commitments on schedule reliability and free storage days rather than rate alone. Keep safety stock for critical Asian components at current levels for now.
Terneuzen lock shipping halted after aerial lift accident
Medium · transport_supplychain · 14 Oct 2026
On Wednesday afternoon, 14 October, an aerial work platform carrying two people ended up in the water at the Terneuzen lock complex. Shipping was subsequently halted.
Recommendation: Ask carriers and forwarders with cargo routed via Terneuzen or Ghent for updated ETAs and expected waiting times. Confirm how any waiting or demurrage charges will be settled under existing contracts.
AI hardware shippers threaten air freight peak squeeze
Medium · transport_supplychain · 14 Oct 2026
Shippers of AI infrastructure are still seeking peak-season capacity. According to The Loadstar, this could push air freight rates sharply higher.
Recommendation: Secure air freight capacity for critical fourth-quarter IT deliveries now via forwarders, or bring deliveries forward. Agree with hardware suppliers who bears the risk of surcharges.
IEA: diesel to stay scarce well into 2027
Medium · energie_brandstoffen · 14 Oct 2026
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that global supply of diesel and other fuels will remain tight well into 2027. Diesel tightness is therefore no longer a short-lived spike but a structural issue.
Recommendation: Review fuel indexation in transport and fleet contracts renewing within a year, and specify a transparent diesel index and review frequency. Consider fixing the price for part of the volume.
ASML cannot meet demand: pressure on Brainport chain
Medium · technologie_cyber · 14 Oct 2026
ASML saw demand for its chipmaking equipment rise so sharply in the third quarter that the company cannot keep up. The company expects further growth.
Recommendation: Map which critical parts you source from suppliers that also serve the semiconductor industry. Within 30 days, request capacity confirmations and lead-time forecasts for 2027. Secure framework agreements or buffer stock for single-source positions.
Regional transport strike today: buses and local trains halt
Medium · transport_supplychain · 14 Oct 2026
Bus drivers and train drivers in Dutch regional public transport are stopping work for the whole of Wednesday 14 October. The dispute concerns their working conditions and future.
Recommendation: Deploy alternatives for today, such as remote working, car-pooling or temporary shared mobility, and record the extra costs. Public contracting bodies should review indexation and labour-cost clauses in current public transport concessions.
DNB: freelancer numbers shrink, flexible talent pool smaller
Low · economie_prijzen · 15 Oct 2026
According to DNB, the number of self-employed freelancers in the Netherlands is shrinking after years of growth. The outflow barely raises unemployment: many former freelancers quickly find other work, often switching sector or occupation.
Recommendation: At the next workforce planning round, assess whether framework agreements with intermediaries, secondment firms and payroll providers offer sufficient capacity. Track lead times and rates of hiring requests as an early indicator.
Karremans targets €2.3bn savings on new infra projects
Low · wetgeving_compliance · 15 Oct 2026
Vincent Karremans, Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management, hopes to save €2.3 billion on new infrastructure projects through fewer rules and more standardisation.
Recommendation: Construction and infrastructure firms: map which in-house specifications deviate from likely standard solutions and prepare framework agreements with suppliers. Public buyers: follow the implementation so tender documents can be adapted in time.
$80bn US-Taiwan LNG deal intensifies competition for gas
Low · energie_brandstoffen · 14 Oct 2026
President Trump has announced an energy agreement with Taiwan worth $80 billion, focused on US LNG. Details and contract duration have not yet been disclosed.
Recommendation: Factor this into the 2027-2028 energy procurement strategy. Weigh the risk of a structurally tighter LNG market when deciding between fixed and spot purchasing.
UWV scraps €55m IT project: lessons for IT contracts
Low · technologie_cyber · 14 Oct 2026
Dutch employee insurance agency UWV is halting an IT project on which €55 million has already been spent, citing 'not enough confidence' in the digital system. Most of that money is now lost.
Recommendation: Review ongoing large IT contracts for interim decision points, exit clauses and payment based on delivered results rather than effort.
Schneider Electric buys PTC: review CAD/PLM licences
Low · leveranciersrisico · 14 Oct 2026
Schneider Electric is acquiring US software company PTC for $22.6 billion. It is the largest acquisition in Schneider Electric's history.
Recommendation: Map current PTC licences and their terms, and check change-of-control and price-indexation clauses. At renewal, consider longer price fixing or exit provisions.
Chemelot opens demonstration facility for circular plastics
Low · grondstoffen_materialen · 14 Oct 2026
Brightlands Circular Space in Sittard-Geleen officially opened a new demonstration facility this week. The facility is intended to scale up circular plastics technology.
Recommendation: Ask plastics and packaging suppliers about their recyclate roadmap and their cooperation with Dutch demonstration and pilot sites. Include recyclate availability in the 2027 category strategy.