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Leaders in the supply chain sector are upbeat about business this year despite continued volatility in trade policies, tariffs, and costs, according to a DP World survey
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In its Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026, DP World said 54% anticipate trade growth to be faster than 2025 and 40% expect it to be equal
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In Indonesia, the Philippines and China, 61%, 50% and 42%, respectively, of executives surveyed expect faster growth
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Companies are responding to the fragile trade environment by actively redesigning supply chains and trade routes
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Among the strategies is staying resilient through supplier diversification, keeping higher inventories, and friend-shoring
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Supply chain and logistics firms are also working on improving route agility by using new lanes depending on cost, better connectivity, and faster customs clearance procedures.
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Biggest trade growth potential this year is seen in Europe and China, followed by Asia Pacific and North America
Leaders in the supply chain sector are upbeat about business this year with 94% expecting 2026 growth to match or even exceed last year despite continued volatility in trade policies, tariffs, and costs, according to a DP World survey.
In its Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026, DP World said 54% anticipate trade growth to be faster than 2025 and 40% expect it to be equal.
This optimism persists despite 53% seeing high or very high policy uncertainty, and 90% expecting trade barriers to rise or remain unchanged.
In Thailand, 73% of executives surveyed expect faster growth – the third-highest result in the sample after India and the US.
In Indonesia, the Philippines and China, the corresponding percentages are 61%, 50% and 42%, respectively.
“Global trade is becoming increasingly complex, not less so,” said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group chairman and CEO of DP World, said in a statement released January 20 in Davos, Switzerland where the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting is being held this week.
The survey indicates that companies are responding to the fragile trade environment by actively redesigning supply chains and trade routes.
Among these strategies is staying resilient through supplier diversification, keeping higher inventories, and friend-shoring or when businesses move production and supply chains to nations that are considered economic and political allies.
Supply chain and logistics firms are also working on improving route agility by using new lanes depending on cost, better connectivity, and faster customs clearance procedures.
About 60% of the survey participants cite customs clearance as a continuing leading cause of delays and disruption.
Business leaders are also prioritizing investments in warehousing and logistics hubs, road networks,
and border/customs processing infrastructure.
The industry leaders see the biggest trade growth potential this year in Europe (22%) and China (17%), followed by Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%).
READ: Asia Pacific sea, air cargo markets emphasize flexibility in 2026
“Our role is clear: to keep trade moving by understanding where friction exists, anticipating where it may emerge next, and investing in the infrastructure, capabilities and partnerships that help our customers operate more efficiently and reliably,” said the chair of DP World, a global logistics provider that operates in 69 countries.
The GTO Annual Outlook, developed with Geneva-based insights agency Horizon Group, was based on a survey of 3,500 senior supply chain and logistics executives across eight industries and 19 countries. It was conducted in November 2025.
“What we’re seeing is confidence with contingency plans. Executives are embedding resilience into strategy by diversifying suppliers, reassessing routes and adding options, because volatility is now the baseline,” said Margareta Drzeniek, Horizon Group managing partner.
READ: For tech firms, logistics now key to resilience and reputation – DP World report
