A DP World survey of 292 Chinese supply chain executives reveals that 58% plan to diversify sourcing in 2026 — surpassing the global average of 51%. Near-shoring (38%) and friend-shoring (36%) follow closely. Executives show strong confidence in trade resilience: 43% expect accelerated global trade growth in 2026, and 50% foresee stable conditions versus 2025. AI deployment is the top tech priority (50%), ahead of digitalisation (44%). Customs clearance remains the top operational bottleneck, while border infrastructure ranks highest for future investment (55%). DP World, managing 10% of global containerised trade, reports rising demand for integrated logistics solutions across e-commerce, automotive, and healthcare sectors.
According to www.stattimes.com, 58% of Chinese supply chain executives plan to increase the number of suppliers and diversify sourcing in 2026, as companies strengthen resilience, expand into new markets, and accelerate investment in digital technologies.
Strategic Priorities Reflect Resilience-Driven Growth
The DP World Global Trade Observatory – China Country Report 2026 surveyed 292 supply chain and logistics executives in China. It found that 58% identified increasing suppliers to diversify sourcing as their top strategic priority for 2026, exceeding the global average of 51%. Near-shoring operations ranked second at 38%, followed by friend-shoring (36%) and increasing inventories (32%). In contrast, only about 25% plan to outsource operations or decrease inventories.
This shift signals a move from defensive risk mitigation to proactive growth strategy — with companies restructuring supply chains around regional and partner-country networks while continuing to invest in technology and market expansion.
Confidence Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty
Despite recent geopolitical turbulence, 43% of Chinese respondents expect global trade growth to accelerate in 2026, and 50% anticipate it will remain stable compared to 2025. Only 42% described policy uncertainty as high — below the global average of 53%. Chinese executives also demonstrated greater confidence in navigating trade barriers: 35% said changes in tariffs and non-tariff barriers would have a positive impact on their businesses, versus just 26% expecting negative effects.
This optimism aligns with China’s ongoing export diversification. Direct exports to the United States now account for less than 3% of China’s GDP — down from more than 6% a decade ago — reflecting a deliberate broadening of trade corridors, particularly across ASEAN and Africa.
Technology as Core Growth Driver
50% of respondents named deploying artificial intelligence (AI) as their leading business priority over the next one to three years, ahead of digitalisation (44%), growing demand from new markets and consumers (43%), and new value chains (34%). Warehousing and fulfilment emerged as the most fully digitalised function, followed by customs and cross-border clearance. Meanwhile, customer-facing services and supply chain visibility continue to improve.
Executives also highlighted policy enablers: trade facilitation ranked highest (40%), followed by free trade agreements (39%) and digitalisation and connectivity support (38%). Yet customs clearance remains the country’s most significant operational bottleneck — despite sustained investment in smart customs programmes and digital border infrastructure.
Infrastructure Investment Priorities
Logistics executives identified border and customs processing infrastructure as their top investment priority (55%), followed by ports and terminals (44%) and warehousing and logistics hubs (42%). Road infrastructure ranked lowest at 13%, reflecting China’s comparatively mature domestic transport network.
Access to trade finance also stands out: 50% of Chinese executives reported trade finance was readily available on reasonable terms — significantly higher than the global average of 39%.
Integrated Solutions Meet Rising Complexity
Commenting on the findings, Glen Hilton, CEO and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, DP World, stated:
“China’s next trade advantage will come from resilience and adaptability, not just scale. Chinese companies are already diversifying suppliers, entering new corridors and investing in digital systems and AI. But that ambition creates the most value when companies can see their cargo, switch between routes, clear borders, manage documentation and fulfil reliably across markets.”
Hilton added:
“What customers increasingly need is not a disconnected set of providers. They need an operating partner that can connect the physical and digital layers of trade – ports, terminals, freight forwarding, customs, warehousing, systems and last-mile execution. DP World is built to help make that complexity work at an international level, so businesses can keep moving even as routes, rules and demand change.”
DP World, which manages around 10% of global containerised trade, noted that these trends mirror real-world demand among its Chinese customers across e-commerce, automotive, fashion and luxury, food and beverage, healthcare, and technology sectors. Clients are increasingly seeking integrated logistics solutions combining freight forwarding, contract logistics, warehousing, customs support, ports, terminals, and digital supply chain visibility.
Source: stattimes.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
