Citi’s February 2026 GPS report reveals Latin American exports to South Asia & ASEAN surged 82%, while U.S. imports from those regions rose 50%. AI adoption in trade finance jumped 18% year-on-year, with 36% of large corporates now using AI tools — helping drive an estimated $7.75 trillion global AI data center capex supercycle by 2030. With 64% of firms citing rising input costs and 6.3% of working capital tied to tariff expenses, 65% are diversifying supply chains toward Vietnam, Mexico, India, and Thailand. The report underscores how AI-powered document processing and blockchain pilots are enabling near 24/7 digital trade execution.
According to www.citigroup.com, Citi’s February 2026 Global Perspectives & Solutions (Citi GPS) report Supply Chain Financing – Durable Global Trade in the Age of AI documents a structural shift in global trade finance, propelled by artificial intelligence adoption and regional supply chain reconfiguration.
Trade Reconfiguration and Regional Winners
The report identifies pronounced realignments in global goods flows. South Asia & ASEAN emerged as major beneficiaries, with shipments from North & East Asia increasing 44%. Latin America has deepened integration across both Asian and North American supply chains — its exports to South Asia & ASEAN surged 82%, the single largest increase globally. U.S. import diversification accelerated: imports from South Asia & ASEAN rose 50%, from Latin America 43%, both outpacing growth from North & East Asia (32%).
AI Adoption and Capital Expenditure Supercycle
AI adoption in trade finance increased by 18% year-on-year among large corporates, with 36% now deploying AI tools. This acceleration is fueling what Citi Research estimates as a $7.75 trillion global capital expenditure supercycle in AI-related data centers by 2030. The report notes that trade finance solutions — including supply chain finance and structured receivables programs — are increasingly critical in supporting this capital-intensive infrastructure buildout.
Working Capital Pressures and Strategic Response
With 64% of surveyed companies citing rising input costs as their primary concern, working capital management has become a C-suite imperative. On average, 6.3% of working capital is tied up funding tariff costs — despite U.S. tariffs rising to approximately 16.8% from 2.4% pre-administration change. To release trapped liquidity, firms are turning to inventory finance, structured receivables, and dynamic discounting. A survey of 710 large corporations found that 65% are actively diversifying supply chains away from one or more countries, favoring Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Mexico.
Technology Transformation in Trade Finance Operations
According to the report, AI is fundamentally reengineering trade finance operations. AI-powered intelligent document processing achieves exceptionally high accuracy rates and reduces processing time to minutes. In a pilot using blockchain-based conditional trade payments, Citi observed potential for evolution from paper-based guarantees to near 24/7 digital execution and automated settlement.
“These types of innovations, combined with structuring expertise, helps companies unlock trapped liquidity and optimize working capital while supporting more efficient supply chains and the massive AI infrastructure buildout underway globally.” — Adoniro Cestari
The findings draw on Citi’s proprietary Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, analysis of over $5 trillion in daily payment flows processed by its Services business, and survey responses from multinational corporations and SMEs. Notably, despite tariff volatility and policy shifts, the Index shows supply chain pressures remained subdued and near pre-pandemic levels — reflecting resilience through strategic inventory management, supplier diversification, and accelerated nearshoring.
Source: www.citigroup.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
