A majority of supply chain professionals in Europe — 78% of those polled — expect economic and political volatility to last up to two more years, a survey by global shipping giant Maersk finds. The study, which probed respondents from over 900 companies across Europe, found that 48% are deeply concerned over the geopolitical climate, while four out of five acknowledged supply chain challenges as harmful to their growth.

What to do? Businesses are moving to diversify their sourcing strategies to mitigate these risks. Three out of four respondents indicated they are either sourcing from, or plan to source from, multiple geographies — a significant jump from Maersk’s 2024 survey, in which 54% of companies said they were considering new locations.

What not to do: Inactivity in the face of constant change is the most detrimental option, Maersk’s Global Head of Trade and Customs Consulting Lars Karlsson said. “You need to be proactive and become more agile in a geopolitical environment like today… You need full control of your global customs data, have it digitally in one central platform where you can blend it with the data of sudden tariff changes as they happen,” Karlsson said.

Respondents view global tariff developments as the most pressing issue impacting supply chains, the survey found. Nearly half — 46% — told Maersk that they expect fluctuations in import and export costs, 43% foresee a rise in trade tariffs, and 40% are preparing for more uncertainty in global trade policies.

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