Risk
Best Buy achieves zero waste goal at supply chain facilities
Best Buy announced on August 18 that all 29 of its supply chain facilities have received TRUE zero waste certification, achieving the goal set in 2021. Through measures such as optimizing packaging, recycling programs, and employee green teams, the company has increased its waste diversion rate to over 90%.
Caterpillar records $392M tariff refund as duty burden eases
Caterpillar reported $392 million in refunds for invalidated tariffs during the second quarter, as actual duty costs fell more than 40% below its earlier forecast. CFO Kyle Epley cited $400 million in tariff expenses for the quarter (excluding refunds), versus a $700 million estimate from April. The company expects around $600 million in tariff costs in the current quarter and roughly $2.2 billion for full-year 2026, at the low end of its prior range.
Honeywell Aerospace Focuses on Supplier Bottlenecks to Boost Production Capacity
Honeywell Aerospace is working to resolve supplier performance issues to unlock production capacity. CEO James Currier stated during the August 5 earnings call that about 2% of its roughly 3,000 suppliers underperformed in the first half, hindering an 8% year-over-year increase in orders. The company has added supply sources for over 50 constrained parts and plans to add 50 more in the second half, while increasing capital expenditures to enhance supplier capacity.
Kimberly-Clark receives $45M tariff refund, about half of 2025 payments
Kimberly-Clark secured a $45 million refund in the second quarter for invalidated U.S. tariffs it paid in 2025, CFO Nelson Urdaneta said on an Aug. 4 earnings call. The refund covers about half of the personal care maker's North American tariff payments, including now-defunct IEEPA levies and Canadian retaliatory duties. The company expects no further material refunds this year and will use the funds to offset roughly $150 million in gross input headwinds from higher oil prices in H2.
Starbucks Tests 24-Hour Replenishment Model to Eliminate Stockouts
Starbucks is testing a 24-hour operating model to enable same-day inventory replenishment and prevent stockouts, while also scaling daily delivery efforts. The initiative follows the company's decision to abandon an AI-powered inventory counting system after nine months due to reliability issues, and a 30% SKU reduction last year.
Tariff Refund Surge Presents CFOs With New Accounting, Tax and Legal Complexities
The federal tariff refund process is outpacing early expectations, with billions in claims already processed. While operational concerns have largely eased, CFOs now confront complex accounting, tax and legal questions as refunds flow to companies of all sizes. Advisers highlight the need for careful documentation and cross-functional coordination.
关税退税流程仍不明朗，企业观望与诉讼并行
美国最高法院裁定IEEPA关税无效已逾一个月，但退税流程仍不明朗。数据显示，逾30万家受影响企业中仅少数提起诉讼，多数企业或提交行政申诉，或等待CBP新数字门户CAPE于4月上线。律师指出，退税资格与成本分担问题可能引发新的法律纠纷，而新关税的出台使局面更加复杂。
2026年供应链十大风险与趋势前瞻
2025年关税风暴重塑美国贸易政策，2026年供应链难获平静。除贸易不确定性外，半导体与牛肉等关键材料供应约束、运营成本压力及物流可靠性问题将持续困扰零售商与制造商。供应链领导者需在多重压力下维持韧性，本文基于行业专家访谈，提炼出2026年值得关注的趋势与风险。
2026年供应链短缺风险前瞻：铜、关键矿产、医疗物资、存储芯片与牛肉供应承压
2026年，供应链将受到铜短缺、关键矿产脆弱性、医疗成本上升、存储芯片约束和牛肉供应紧张等多重压力。企业正通过重新设计全球网络、建立库存和调整产品结构来应对。