80% of Global Supply Chains Disrupted: New Report Shows Rising Insurance Uptake

The Business Continuity Institute's 2024 Supply Chain Resilience Report presents a sobering picture of global supply chain vulnerabilities, with nearly 80 percent of organizations experiencing at least one disruption over the past twelve months. This year-over-year increase signals that despite widespread adoption of resilience practices, systemic risks continue to outpace organizational defenses. The report identifies third-party failures, cyber-attacks, and weather events as the primary disruption drivers, with the majority of incidents occurring within the first two supplier tiers. Organizations are responding with measurable shifts in risk management strategy.

Deep supplier visibility has dramatically improved, with 17.1 percent of respondents now analyzing suppliers down to tier 4 and beyond, compared to just 3.7 percent last year. Concurrently, supply chain insurance uptake has grown from 37.4 percent to 46.7 percent, reflecting increased financial awareness of disruption costs. However, the report flags a concerning decline in executive commitment to supply chain risk management, with 20 percent of leaders reporting low or nonexistent commitment due to competing budget priorities. The findings underscore a critical inflection point for supply chain professionals.

While tactical improvements in visibility and insurance coverage are underway, structural gaps persist: limited top-level buy-in, technology adoption gaps (Excel spreadsheets remain the primary tool), and emerging threats including civil unrest, climate change, and regulatory shifts. Organizations must balance immediate protective measures with long-term strategic investments in resilience.