There may be trouble ahead: Q3 2024 Trade and Supply Chain Outlook

Supply chain decision-makers have had a particularly thorny 2024 to navigate so far because of network disruptions and regulatory uncertainties. The second half of the year and early 2025 offer no respite, with the peak shipping season set to be particularly challenging.

• Slowing demand for supply chain services: Trade activity has boomed in early 2024. Manufacturing appears to be recovering, but it is lapping a period of weak demand including electronics and destocking in retail last year. Looking ahead into the rest of 2024 and 2025 we expect to see a slowdown.
• Operational risks rising: The 2024 peak season for shipping consumer goods faces uncertain shipping capacity, the impact of Red Sea closures, potential labor strikes, and volatile shipping rates. Natural disasters are roiling supply chains from agriculture to chemicals. What can we learn from previous peak seasons and how should you structure your logistics network for 2025 and beyond?
• Elections and the reshoring decision: 2024 is the year of elections around the world, raising regulatory risks from tariffs to sanctions. Looking ahead to 2025, assessing reshoring strategies across reshoring and manufacturing investments is more important than ever - we’ll look at examples and opportunities.