A global survey of supply chain professionals finds that over the past year 40 per cent have experienced climate-related disruptions, alongside geopolitical instability (38 per cent), cyber incidents (38 per cent) and raw material shortages.

Despite 81 per cent expecting to be better prepared for future disruption, 54 per cent say supply chain risk is managed primarily reactively.

Whilst organisations are increasingly confident they can withstand the next supply chain disruption, many lack the processes, visibility and coordination needed to respond effectively when it happens, new research from BSI finds.

In the report Building for disruption: the new outlook for supply chain resilience, fears are raised that the gap between intention and implementation could leave businesses exposed to shortages, delays and higher operating costs. With more than a third (36 per cent) of organisations planning to increase prices over the next six months to offset supply chain costs, the consequences are likely to extend beyond business operations and be felt by consumers.

Tony Pelli, practice director, supply chain resilience, BSI, said: “2026 has been the hottest summer on record for several countries, and with conditions set to remain volatile into 2027 due to El Niño patterns, the human element of these disruptions is stark. A set of unrelenting environmental and geopolitical ruptures means that supply chain breakdown directly impacts everyday lives. When networks fail, people ultimately bear the burden through rising shelf prices and an inability to access the essential goods they rely on.”

---