Global merchandise trade is forecast to grow 3.7% in 2025, but disruption is now part of the operating baseline with 71% of US companies reporting supply chain problems in 2021. Customs delays and COVID linked schedule cancellations still echo through operations, while cybersecurity and digital tools like blockchain, visibility platforms, and automation are reshaping how firms plan, ship, and track risk.
Key Takeaways
- 3.7% global merchandise trade volume growth forecast for 2025 (World Trade Organization baseline)
- 71% of U.S. companies reported experiencing supply chain disruptions in 2021 (Federal Reserve Bank of New York/NY Fed survey-based evidence compiled on supply chain conditions)
- 46% of importers reported that customs delays were a major or moderate obstacle to trade operations (OECD survey evidence)
- 47% of organizations reported that they suffered a supply chain disruption due to a cybersecurity incident in the past 12 months (Ponemon Institute survey summary for third-party risk)
- 31% of organizations with ESG reporting said they plan to use blockchain for supply chain transparency in the next 24 months (Gartner supply chain transparency research digest)
- $4.2 billion global spend on supply chain management software in 2023 (Gartner estimate cited in industry coverage)
- $13.8 billion expected size of the global warehouse management system market in 2024 (Fortune Business Insights report)
- Global shipping and logistics costs were estimated at 5.2% of global GDP in 2022 (World Bank / logistics cost references)
- Inventory carrying costs typically range from 20% to 30% of inventory value per year (APICS/ASCM research summarized in industry materials)
- 7.2% average warehouse worker safety incident rate reduction with automation initiatives reported in a 2022 study (NIOSH/academic safety evidence on automation impacts)
- 10-20% improvement in on-time delivery is reported by organizations after deploying supply chain visibility platforms (Gartner visibility research summary coverage)
- 48% of respondents indicated they are conducting scenario planning for supply chain disruptions, reflecting a growing resilience practice
- 3.9% of global merchandise trade value is estimated to be conducted digitally (online and digitally enabled transactions), reflecting the growing role of digital trade in commerce
- 26% of organizations report that they use digital labor systems (e.g., robotic picking/assistive technologies) to improve warehouse operations
- 24% of firms report using digital twins for operational planning or optimization in supply chain or logistics
Supply chains are facing major disruption pressures, but digital and automation investments are steadily improving visibility and resilience.
Related reading
01 · Category
Trade & Demand5 stats
01
3.7% global merchandise trade volume growth forecast for 2025 (World Trade Organization baseline)https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres24_e/pr1046_e.htm
02
71% of U.S. companies reported experiencing supply chain disruptions in 2021 (Federal Reserve Bank of New York/NY Fed survey-based evidence compiled on supply chain conditions)https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/Microsites/omo/2002-02-forecast.pdf
03
46% of importers reported that customs delays were a major or moderate obstacle to trade operations (OECD survey evidence)https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/customs-and-supply-chain-delays_5c8f3c5f-en
04
12% of maritime container shipping schedules were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 (UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2020)https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/rmt2020_en.pdf
05
Global container shipping freight rates declined by about 60% from the 2021 peak to 2023 levels (UNCTADstat / UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport indicators)https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/rmt2023_en.pdf
Interpretation
Trade & Demand Interpretation
For the Trade & Demand side of supply chain dynamics, global merchandise trade is forecast to grow only 3.7% in 2025 while trade flow is still being disrupted by demand and shipping pressures such as 71% of US companies reporting supply chain disruptions in 2021, customs delays affecting 46% of importers, and maritime schedules with 12% cancellations in 2020, even as freight rates fell about 60% from their 2021 peak to 2023.
02 · Category
Risk & Resilience1 stats
01
47% of organizations reported that they suffered a supply chain disruption due to a cybersecurity incident in the past 12 months (Ponemon Institute survey summary for third-party risk)https://www.ponemon.org/library
Interpretation
Risk & Resilience Interpretation
With 47% of organizations reporting supply chain disruptions from cybersecurity incidents in the past 12 months, risk and resilience planning must treat cyber threats as a direct operational continuity concern.
03 · Category
Market Size12 stats
01
31% of organizations with ESG reporting said they plan to use blockchain for supply chain transparency in the next 24 months (Gartner supply chain transparency research digest)https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/3995826
02
$4.2 billion global spend on supply chain management software in 2023 (Gartner estimate cited in industry coverage)https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-07-17-gartner-says-worldwide-enterprise-it-spending
03
$13.8 billion expected size of the global warehouse management system market in 2024 (Fortune Business Insights report)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/warehouse-management-system-market-103235
04
$38.5 billion expected global supply chain visibility market size by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights report)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/supply-chain-visibility-market-102139
05
$10.8 billion expected global logistics automation market size by 2030 (MarketsandMarkets report)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/logistics-automation-market-227174684.html
06
$64.8 billion expected global procurement software market size in 2024 (IMARC Group report)https://www.imarcgroup.com/procurement-software-market
07
$8.5 billion global transportation management system market size in 2023 (IMARC Group report)https://www.imarcgroup.com/transportation-management-system-market
08
$6.3 billion global supply chain analytics market size in 2023 (MarketsandMarkets report)https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/supply-chain-analytics-market-203477249.html
09
$10.4 billion global spend on supply chain analytics software in 2024https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US51821324
10
$29.6 billion global supply chain management software market size in 2024https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US52104924
11
$45.3 billion global warehouse automation market size forecast for 2027https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/warehouse-automation-market-103038
12
$12.9 billion global blockchain in supply chain market size in 2024 (forecasted market value)https://www.precedenceresearch.com/blockchain-in-supply-chain-market
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market for supply chain capabilities is expanding quickly, with global supply chain visibility projected to reach $38.5 billion by 2030 and warehouse management systems expected to grow to $13.8 billion in 2024, signaling strong demand across the market size category.
04 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
Global shipping and logistics costs were estimated at 5.2% of global GDP in 2022 (World Bank / logistics cost references)https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099640104302516112/transport-and-logistics-database
02
Inventory carrying costs typically range from 20% to 30% of inventory value per year (APICS/ASCM research summarized in industry materials)https://www.ascm.org/insights-and-ideas/trends-and-reports/operations-management/inventory-carrying-costs
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For cost analysis, logistics consumed about 5.2% of global GDP in 2022 while inventory holding expenses can add 20% to 30% of inventory value each year, showing how both transportation and storage can materially drive total supply chain costs.
More related reading
05 · Category
Performance Metrics4 stats
01
7.2% average warehouse worker safety incident rate reduction with automation initiatives reported in a 2022 study (NIOSH/academic safety evidence on automation impacts)https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2022-123/default.html
02
10-20% improvement in on-time delivery is reported by organizations after deploying supply chain visibility platforms (Gartner visibility research summary coverage)https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4018345
03
48% of respondents indicated they are conducting scenario planning for supply chain disruptions, reflecting a growing resilience practicehttps://www.supplychain247.com/resources/visibility-report/2023-supply-chain-visibility-survey.pdf
04
6.2 days is the average time that a container remains in port before departure in 2023 for major trading hubs under typical conditionshttps://unctad.org/market-information/ports/ship-movement-data
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics are clearly trending toward measurable gains in execution and resilience, with on time delivery improving by 10 to 20 percent through visibility platforms and 48 percent of organizations using scenario planning, alongside operational efficiency indicators like a 6.2 day average container dwell time at major ports.
06 · Category
Industry Trends1 stats
01
3.9% of global merchandise trade value is estimated to be conducted digitally (online and digitally enabled transactions), reflecting the growing role of digital trade in commercehttps://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/economic_researchreport20_e.pdf
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In industry trends for supply chains, 3.9% of global merchandise trade value is already estimated to be conducted digitally, underscoring how quickly online and digitally enabled transactions are reshaping business commerce.
07 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
26% of organizations report that they use digital labor systems (e.g., robotic picking/assistive technologies) to improve warehouse operationshttps://www.mhi.org/insights-publications/warehouse-automation-survey-2023
02
24% of firms report using digital twins for operational planning or optimization in supply chain or logisticshttps://www.iomonline.com/forecasting-survey-2024
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
User adoption in supply chain is gaining momentum, with 26% of organizations using digital labor systems to improve warehouse operations and 24% adopting digital twins for planning or optimization.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Thomas Lindqvist. (2026, February 13). Supply Chain In The Business Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/supply-chain-in-the-business-industry-statistics
MLA
Thomas Lindqvist. "Supply Chain In The Business Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/supply-chain-in-the-business-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Thomas Lindqvist. 2026. "Supply Chain In The Business Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/supply-chain-in-the-business-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report
+10 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)