TAKEAWAYS Shaping the Future of the Global Supply Chain
Inventory management is king. That’s the short take from the most recent West Monroe Quarterly Supply Chain Poll , which surveyed 250 industry leaders across manufacturing, retail, and distribution to track how they’re responding to supply chain disruption in real time. Against a now familiar backdrop of margin pressures due to tari policies, AI transformation impacts, and growing worry over labor constraints, survey respondents indicate that inventory control remains the anchor of supply chain priorities. Snagging the No. 1 spot, 25% of respondents name “improving inventory management” their top focus (up from 20% in Q2). The surprise mover? Customer fulfillment speed, which jumped three spots to become the No. 2 priority. As realigned supply flows and tari- driven delays mount, speed is emerging as a competitive necessity ( see chart ). Looking ahead, West Monroe predicts the next chapter will show which companies lean in and dierentiate. Structural agility—data, scenario modeling, responsive networks—will matter more than ever, the company says. ALL ABOUT THE INVENTORY
GLOBAL TRADE DEFIES TARIFF PRESSURES Even as U.S. taris hit their highest levels in nearly a century, global trade continues to expand, according to the updated DHL Global Connectedness Tracker , developed in partnership with New York University’s Stern School of Business. Drawing on more than 20 million data points from 25 sources, the report provides one of the first systematic looks at how global trade and investment are adapting to shifting U.S. trade policies under President Trump’s second term. Global trade volumes are projected to grow at an annualized rate of 2.5% through 2029, roughly matching the pace of the previous decade, according to the Tracker . The resilience is partly because the United States accounts for a smaller share of world trade—just 13% of imports and 9% of exports in 2024— and most countries have not mirrored U.S. tari increases. While taris are slowing growth, they are not reversing it. North America saw the steepest downgrade in trade forecasts, while Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East gained ground due to lighter tari exposure and stronger energy exports. “Despite all the headwinds, the DHL Global Connectedness Tracker highlights the enduring strength of global trade,” says John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express. The report also shows these key findings: • Global trade grew faster in the first half of 2025 than in any period since 2010 (excluding the pandemic rebound). • No major reorientation of trade along geopolitical blocs is evident. • Average trade distance hit a record 3,200 miles (5,000 kilometers) , disproving claims of “deglobalization.” • Globalization remains near its record high at 25% on DHL’s index scale. • The share of U.S.-reported imports coming directly from China plummeted to only 9% over the first seven months of 2025, down from 13% one year earlier and 22% in 2017 ( see chart ).
Shifting Trade Tides
Source: West Monroe
14 Inbound Logistics • November 2025
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