WEF: Global Supply Chains Face Structural Volatility, Resilience Emerges as Growth Engine

WEF: Global Supply Chains Face Structural Volatility

News: Global value chains have entered a phase of structural volatility, with disruption becoming a permanent feature rather than a temporary shock, according to a new World Economic Forum (WEF) report.

Driven by geopolitical fragmentation, rapid technological change and the energy transition, supply chains are being fundamentally redesigned. The report finds that 74% of global executives now prioritise resilience as a growth driver, not just a risk-management tool.

In 2025 alone, tariff escalations reshaped over $400 billion in trade flows, while shipping costs jumped 40%. WEF notes a shift away from efficiency-led models toward adaptive, flexible supply networks.

To support this transition, it launched the Manufacturing and Supply Chain Readiness Navigator, helping governments and firms assess competitiveness, investment readiness and ecosystem strength in an era of permanent uncertainty.