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Research is based on wholesale and distribution operations of real-life case company, and in this setting, the most critical part of company’s supply chain is the inventory replenishment to warehouse (Distribution Center) as well as fulfilling and delivering customers’ orders. Different Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)-based models have been considered (Reorder Point, Reorder Point with pipeline on order inventory, and “pulse train”). Simulation system evaluates annual total logistics costs. Results show that in an environment, where local warehouse inventory levels are rather high and replenishment order quantity is rather small, it is important have frequent shipments divided in suitable intervals. In simulation model, this could be done e.g. with the use of “pulse train” function or incorporating pipeline on order inventory in order decision. The research findings are valid for a small-scale supply chain servicing small and geographically limited markets with clients assuming high customer service levels (e.g. 24-hours lead time). For bigger markets, the cross-docking based supply chain models are worth considering in simulations.

In the late 2013 One Belt and One Road (OBOR) was announced in Chinese international political speeches. Thereafter, this significant investment program started and research works were also initiated. We found that first journal publications (in English) appeared in 2016, and thereafter their amounts have increased, especially in 2018. Most of the contributing authors are China based or Chinese scholars living in abroad. Highest citations amounts are for the works published in the first analysis year, however, some differences exist between Scopus and Web of Science citation service amounts. Ten highest cited works account most of the citations on analysed 66 articles. Literature analysis uses tag cloud and network analysis to identify and analyse what are the most used references of these OBOR works. There does not exist any clear key reference among articles, but most used references form a network among analysed research work citations. This further verifies that OBOR program is significantly sized in topics covered, and it is still difficult to define its central or key area.

In this research is being analyzed trade relationship and unitized maritime cargo between Germany and Finland. Focus in longitudinal analysis (2001-2017) is on maritime transport, and particularly within the development of different Finnish sea ports in unitized German cargo handling. Trade has been significantly growing over the decades and is on record highs in the most recent year (2017). Germany has also become largest trade partner of Finland. However, after 2003 trade bas been on growing deficit path, and is currently more than one billion deficits for Finland. Rather surprisingly, unitized cargo flows are not growing as much as trade suggests. Still best years are from time before Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Some sea ports in Southwest of Finland have been on clear declining path, while largest sea ports could be considered as somehow sustaining in volumes. Growth is on some smaller and mid-sized sea ports, which have direct regional need for German trade. Hinterland transports through Baltic States must have taken share of direct maritime transports from Finnish sea ports.