Logistics Now a Strategic Advantage: 3,500 Execs Prioritize Infrastructure

A comprehensive survey of 3,500 senior supply chain and logistics executives conducted by DP World reveals a fundamental shift in how companies view logistics infrastructure. Rather than treating logistics as a back-office support function, respondents now position it as a strategic competitive advantage essential to growth. Despite expectations of high policy uncertainty and geopolitical challenges in 2026, 54% of executives anticipate faster trade growth compared to the prior year. The report highlights several key strategic priorities driving investment decisions.

Supplier diversification ranks as the top strategic change for 2026, selected by 51% of respondents, driven primarily by new market entry opportunities and technology enablement. When asked about growth drivers for the next one to three years, new markets and consumers (46%), AI deployment (43%), and infrastructure improvements (42%) emerge as the leading initiatives. Critically, 39% of executives identify warehousing and logistics hubs as the top infrastructure investment needed, reflecting the evolving strategic importance of location, capacity planning, and distribution network design. Customs efficiency represents a significant operational pain point across all surveyed companies.

Every respondent identified customs as a top three cause of delay, with 60% naming it as the leading factor. This finding underscores the growing need for digital solutions in trade facilitation, positioning investments in customs technology platforms as immediately relevant to competitiveness and speed to market.