Global Scans · Supply · Weekly Summary

• [New] Researchers at EPFL in Switzerland have now calculated how asteroid mining could supply metals directly to Mars. ScienceDaily
• [New] On the AI side: hyperscaler capex is accelerating, AI optical demand is outrunning supply, AI application workloads are growing explosively, and the spending cycle has clear visibility into 2027 and 2028. investing.com
• [New] Supply challenges include declining ore grades and costly new mines, while uncertainties like US tariffs and geopolitical risks could impact future prices. ST
• [New] Meeting that demand could require around 80 new copper mines worldwide, underscoring growing concerns over future supply. The Astana Times
• [New] Without action to reduce water use and build new supply infrastructure, England's taps could run dry. The Guardian
• [New] AI demand is reshaping memory markets, with HBM TAM exceeding $100 billion while supply remains structurally constrained through 2027. Seeking Alpha
• [New] The gold / silver ratio widened as silver underperformed gold, though resilient industrial demand and a projected 2026 supply deficit continue to underpin the medium-term picture. NordFX
• [New] Global supply chains face ongoing disruptions due to semiconductor shortages, logistical delays, and geopolitical tensions. Persistence Market Research
• [New] China could then replace imports of components, software, and machine tools with its own supply chains, becoming more self-sufficient in robotics. Merics
• [New] Because China also produces a large fraction of robot components, even for robots assembled in the United States, it will have strong leverage in any related negotiations until U.S. robotics companies further diversify their supply chains. IEEE Spectrum
• [New] More supply was rising outside OPEC and American shale: Brazil's offshore fields, Guyana's expanding projects and Argentina's Vaca Muerta were expected to provide roughly half of the projected 800,000-barrel-a-day increase in global crude production in 2026. www.feedlotmagazine.com
• [New] AI growth and secular demand remain robust, with memory chip prices and supply constrained into 2027, supporting a bullish long-term thesis. Seeking Alpha
• [New] As with Taiwan, the Netherlands' unique place in the AI supply chain gives it geoeconomic power that could easily grow as AI development and diffusion increases globally. Council on Foreign Relations
• [New] While both the United States and China are focused on reducing external dependencies, self-reliance or friendshoring supply chains will take years. Council on Foreign Relations
• [New] Recent resolution of U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions and the June reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have eased supply disruptions, accelerating Persian Gulf production recovery and shifting markets toward inventory builds. Polymarket
• The 2026 closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered the largest oil supply disruption on record, driving a sharp increase in crude oil and jet fuel prices and impacting airline operating costs worldwide. Global Business Travel Association - GBTA
• The structural dependence on China, which controls nearly 90% of global refining, will continue to prompt manufacturers to build alternative REEs supply chains. Coface
• Heightened tensions around Iranian targets have historically raised concerns about shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil supply flows. Crypto Briefing
• The ongoing turmoil in the Middle East has led to increased gasoline prices, reflecting heightened concerns about supply disruptions. Crypto Briefing
• The disruption to shipping caused by conflict in the Middle East is the latest reminder of the fragility of global supply chains. Dare, HEC Media Hub
• There is execution risk around data center capacity, power availability, chip supply, OpenAI-related economics, enterprise AI adoption, and competitive pressure from Amazon, Google, Anthropic, Meta, and open-source models. investing.com
• Project Vault, supported by a $10 billion EXIM loan and $2 billion in private-sector investment, is designed as a commercial reserve to protect U.S. manufacturers from supply chain disruptions. Haynes Boone
• Near-term supply disruptions and damage to gas infrastructure - including to Qatar's Ras Laffan, the world's largest liquefaction site - are expected to set back Qatar's planned LNG capacity expansion. IEA

Last updated: 10 August 2026