TAKEAWAYS
SOURCING UPDATE: GLOBAL TRADE, REGIONAL FOCUS
As retailers navigate this evolving landscape, the winners will be those who combine regional flexibility with digital intelligence, notes TradeBeyond. Key strategies include building supply networks that can pivot quickly, onboarding new suppliers efficiently, and maintaining visibility across the entire product lifecycle. A separate global sourcing survey from QIMA shows some encouraging trends: after a decade of disruption, global networks are better prepared to navigate shocks and identify opportunities hidden within. Drawing on the insights of more than 1,000 businesses with international sourcing networks, The QIMA Sourcing Survey 2026 shows companies are leveraging experience to transform disruption into smarter sourcing, stronger relationships, and greater resilience in 2026. Diversification, visibility, and digitization are taking center stage, with QIMA reporting the following: Two in five supply chains (43%) made notable sourcing geography changes in 2025 to mitigate the impact of tariffs. ( See chart below ) Fully mapped networks outperform on most operational fronts, from quality to costs; 60% of respondents report supply chains that are mapped. 74% of respondents plan to invest in supply chain digitization in 2026. High digitization streamlines communication and safety compliance.
G lobal sourcing is in flux. Expanding tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and trade fragmentation are forcing companies to rethink how they manage risk, balance cost, and maintain flexibility. TradeBeyond’s Q1 2026 Retail Sourcing Report shows retailers are moving away from traditional, linear supply chains and embracing regionalized, multi-hub strategies. And, rather than reacting to crises, retailers are proactively redesigning their networks by investing in digital tools and data-driven processes to anticipate disruption before it hits, the report notes. This shift is not just about diversification; it’s about resilience. The Q1 data shows nearshoring and multi-hub sourcing are gaining traction in regions such as Mexico, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, while digital transformation allows companies to maintain end-to-end visibility across increasingly complex networks. At the same time, global growth remains steady but subdued, and cost pressures from currency fluctuations, commodity trends, and environmental regulations continue to shape sourcing decisions. Key trends highlighted in TradeBeyond’s report include: Tariffs drive diversification: U.S. and retaliatory trade measures are pushing retailers to source from multiple regions to avoid overexposure. Regionalization on the rise: Companies are adopting nearshoring and multi-hub models to build flexible, responsive supply chains. Freight and cost pressures: Container rates are easing, but ongoing disruptions and regulations continue to challenge logistics. Digital supply chain transformation: End-to-end visibility, real-time collaboration, and data-driven decision-making are increasingly central to operations.
The QIMA report also notes a 2026 global sourcing outlook marked by strong U.S. optimism : only 20% of U.S. businesses expect supply chain conditions to deteriorate further in 2026.
U.S. Sourcing Patterns vs. 2025 Diversification Choices
60%
54%
52%
48%49%
43%
24%
18%
Bought less from China in 2025
Plan to buy less from China in 2026
Increased nearshoring and/or reshoring in 2025
Plan to increase nearshoring and/or reshoring in 2026
Complex economics: Stabilizing commodity prices are offset by currency fluctuations and trade tensions, requiring careful cost management.
Did not diversify supply chain in 2025 Diversified supply chain in 2025
Source: TradeBeyond
16 Inbound Logistics • April 2026
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