New findings pierce the fog of global commerce
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) recently released the findings of its annual State of Logistics report, which indicates that businesses continue to navigate through a fog of supply chain and economic uncertainty.
Created annually for CSCMP by global consulting firm Kearney and presented by Penske Logistics, the publication offers a close-up of the American economy through the lens of the logistics sector. The report further suggests ongoing fragile business optimism driven by fluctuating demand, emerging technological disruptions, and a renewed need for resilience and agility.
“Today’s logistics leaders are operating in a world of rapid shifts and persistent uncertainty—a true fog of global commerce,” Mark Baxa, CSCMP president and CEO, said in a news release. “This year’s State of Logistics report helps supply chain professionals cut through that fog with insight, data, and direction. It highlights not only the challenges of disrupted trade flows, evolving customer expectations, and constrained capacity, but also the resilience and innovation reshaping the logistics landscape.
“At CSCMP, we’re proud to provide this essential industry benchmark, empowering leaders to navigate complexity and chart a confident course forward.”
Notable trends and statistics include:
- U.S. business logistics costs are $2.58 trillion, which amounts to 8.8% of the national GDP. Last year, the numbers were $2.45 trillion and 8.8% respectively.
- The logistics industry in 2024 saw a return to pre-pandemic patterns in some areas, but was also marked by flat business volumes, excess truck capacity, and rising operational costs.
- E-commerce continues to move along at a brisk pace, with global online retail sales nearing $6.3 trillion, resulting in more efficient last-mile delivery, increasingly agile warehousing, and a stronger demand for air freight.
- Geopolitical tensions, combined with proposed and enacted tariffs, and shifting trade regulations around the world, have combined to increase transit times, capacity constraints, rate volatility in ocean freight (leading to longer home package delivery times and delays), and a greater reliance from third-party logistics providers to deliver end-to-end support.
- Mexico overtook China as the United States’ largest trading partner in 2024. Transactions between the U.S. and Mexico topped at a record $840 billion, a 6% year-over-year improvement.
- Technology investment continues to be an essential component of the modern supply chain. Data analytics, artificial intelligence as well as robotics and automation are among the headliners supply chain leaders are working on.
“As the fog thickens, the logistics industry must move beyond short-term fixes and fundamentally rethink resilience—not as a luxury, but as a strategic imperative embedded in networks, technology, and decision-making,” said Korhan Acar, Kearney partner and lead author for the State of Logistics report.” In a world defined by disruption, resilience is what ensures continuity, enabling agility and long-term durability. And as AI and automation drive down the cost of building resilient supply chains, the greater risk now lies in standing still.”