Modern supply chains are facing unprecedented disruptions that demand both agility and strategic thinking from the transport and logistics sector. Armed conflicts, inflation, shifting regulations, and the return of border controls are just some of the factors reshaping global trade. What are the main supply chain challenges logistics operators, freight forwarders, and carriers must prepare for? Here are the key issues shaping the future of logistics.
1. Geopolitics and shifting trade routes
One of the most pressing supply chain challenges is the disruption of traditional trade corridors. Attacks in the Red Sea region have disrupted the Suez Canal, through which 12–15% of global trade normally flows. Rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope adds 8–10 days to transit times and significantly increases operational costs.
Simultaneously, trade imbalances—especially between the US and China—are overloading ports and creating serious delays. TSL companies must respond with real-time monitoring and highly adaptive route planning.
2. Economic uncertainty and cost pressure
Among the top supply chain challenges is economic instability. Although inflation is slowly declining, it still influences consumer and business behavior. Reduced demand combined with increased supply (e.g., new shipping vessels entering service) is causing freight rates to fall and financial risk to rise.
Air cargo, despite its speed, faces its own pressures e-commerce and seasonal demand surges can quickly overwhelm available capacity, especially during peak periods. Chinese export volatility, U.S. trade policy, and economic sanctions further complicate logistics planning and profitability.
3. Regulatory and environmental instability
In a rapidly evolving legal environment, logistics companies must respond to:
- changing customs regulations,
- tariffs and embargoes (e.g., U.S.–EU tensions),
- environmental directives (CBAM, ETS, Green Deal).
These issues form a core group of supply chain challenges, as every change in regulation can affect sourcing strategies, production locations, and delivery timelines.
Example: the EU’s proposed tariffs on cheap Chinese imports (especially e-commerce) may drastically alter cargo structures and force strategic pivots in logistics models.
4. The return of border controls in Europe
September 2025 saw the reintroduction of several border controls. Poland and Germany extended restrictions, including closures with Belarus. For intermodal freight, this limits New Silk Road capacity. In road transport, it increases lead times, costs, and the frequency of delays.
To mitigate this, TSL firms must strengthen contract language (force majeure clauses), improve delay monitoring, and reinforce contingency planning.
5. How can the TSL sector prepare for supply chain challenges?
✅ Boost operational flexibility
– diversify transport modes, build local partnerships, enable rapid rerouting.
✅ Leverage analytics and forecasting
– predictive tools help identify bottlenecks, forecast demand shifts, and optimize planning.
✅ Digitize and automate processes
– gain full supply chain visibility, reduce human error, and accelerate reporting.
✅ Strengthen contract resilience
– include clauses for delays, extra costs, and liability mitigation.
✅ Enhance customer collaboration
– maintain transparency, communicate risks, and plan responses together.
The supply chain challenges of the coming years will be increasingly complex and interlinked with global political, economic, and regulatory dynamics. Success will go to the companies that not only react swiftly but also anticipate disruptions and build long-term supply chain resilience.
For TSL companies, this is the time to rethink strategy, tools, and customer relationships—before today’s challenges become tomorrow’s losses.
