Agility survey: Logistics leaders brace for volatile 2026, accelerate AI and supply‑chain overhaul

Industry executives entering 2026 are preparing for persistent disruption and are pivoting from passive risk management to active engineering of supply networks. A cross‑section survey of logistics professionals indicates that most expect elevated trade, political and macroeconomic turbulence next year, and they are translating that outlook into concrete operational shifts. Companies report almost universal deployment of AI tools to run parts of their operations, and leaders frame those tools as instruments both of change and control—accelerating visibility, automation and decision speed while also introducing new sources of operational complexity. Respondents say production and sourcing shifts that began with the pandemic and were amplified by geopolitical friction and tariff spikes are continuing as firms rebalance supplier footprints. Tariff risk stands out as a vulnerability where many firms feel underprepared, prompting tactical responses such as diversifying suppliers, consolidating freight flows and expanding strategically located warehousing. The Gulf economies emerge as a focused investment target: regional states are positioning infrastructure, talent and digital capabilities to capture transit and logistics activity and to remain acceptable partners to major trading powers. Rankings in the index put Asian economies and select Americas and Gulf markets at the top for both international opportunity and digital readiness, creating a two‑tier outlook for emerging markets based on skills, capital access and infrastructure. Sustainability programs face retrenchment pressure as nearly half of respondents report slowing or pausing initiatives while cost containment and ROI uncertainty dominate priorities. For investors and service providers the message is clear: markets that combine solid logistics infrastructure with advanced digital adoption will attract disproportionate flows. In operational terms, expect increased capital allocation toward AI integration, warehouse capacity in strategic nodes, and systems that reduce exposure to tariff and policy shocks. The net effect will be a faster evolution of logistics from staggered, cost‑driven networks to more dynamic, data‑orchestrated platforms that can reroute and reweight flows in near real time.