Supply Chain Statistics (2026): Disruption, Costs and Trends

These supply chain statistics bring together the numbers retail and operations leaders actually need for 2026, organised around three pillars: disruption, costs and trends. Every figure below is drawn from named, recently published research and cited inline with a link and the data year. Where Southeast Asia and Singapore data exist, we have included them. Nothing here is estimated by us; if we could not verify a number against a real source, we left it out.

Top statistics

Global inventory distortion (out-of-stocks plus overstocks) cost retailers about US$1.7 trillion in 2024, split into roughly US$1.2 trillion of lost sales from stockouts and US$554 billion tied up in overstocks (IHL Group, 2024).
Global supply chain disruption events rose 38% year on year in 2024, the highest annual total on record (Resilinc via DC Velocity, 2024).
The Port of Singapore handled a record 41.12 million TEU in 2024, up 5.4% from 39.0 million TEU in 2023 and crossing the 40-million mark for the first time (Seatrade Maritime, 2025).
Singapore ranked first in the world on the World Bank Logistics Performance Index with a score of 4.3 (World Bank LPI, 2023).
Container shipping through the Suez Canal fell by roughly 90% in 2024 as vessels rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope amid Red Sea attacks (UNCTAD, 2024).
The Drewry World Container Index stood at US$4,530 per 40ft container in early July 2026, having jumped 9% in a single week on peak-season demand (Drewry, 2026).
The share of companies moving operations out of China rose to 69% in 2024, up from 55% in 2022 (QIMA, 2024).
US retail returns were projected to total US$890 billion in 2024, or about 16.9% of annual sales, up from 14.5% in 2023 (NRF & Happy Returns, 2024).
The Southeast Asia cross-border e-commerce logistics market was estimated at US$9.08 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$15.39 billion by 2030 (11.14% CAGR) (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).

Supply chain disruption statistics

Disruption events tracked globally rose 38% in 2024 versus 2023, continuing a multi-year climb (Resilinc via DC Velocity, 2024).
Of 22,522 disruption notifications monitored in 2024, more than half (59%) were serious enough to trigger a formal response “war room” (Resilinc, 2024).
Factory fires remained the single most common disruption for the sixth year running, with 2,299 alerts in 2024 (Resilinc, 2024).
Extreme-weather alerts surged 119% in 2024, while protest and riot events rose 285% year on year, the fastest-growing risk category (Resilinc, 2024).
Procurement-related supply chain disruptions cost the average large company about US$16 million a year (Coupa via Supply Chain 24/7, 2024).

Inventory distortion: stockouts and overstock

The total cost of inventory distortion reached US$1.7 trillion in 2024, a 3.7% improvement on the prior year but still larger than the GDP of many mid-sized economies (IHL Group, 2024).
Out-of-stocks accounted for roughly US$1.2 trillion of that total in 2024, measured from lost sales when shoppers could not find what they came to buy (IHL Group, 2024).
Overstocks tied up about US$554 billion in excess and slow-moving inventory in 2024, driving markdowns and spoilage (IHL Group, 2024).
US retailers expected to process about US$890 billion of returns in 2024, equal to 16.9% of sales, up from 14.5% in 2023, adding significant reverse-logistics and restocking cost (NRF & Happy Returns, 2024).

Freight and logistics costs

The Drewry World Container Index reached US$4,530 per 40ft container in early July 2026, up 9% week on week (Drewry, 2026).
On the transpacific lane, Shanghai to Los Angeles was priced at about US$6,349 per 40ft container and Shanghai to New York at US$7,902 in early July 2026 (Drewry, 2026).
Suez Canal shipping volumes dropped 55% in a single week in February 2024 versus the year before as carriers avoided the Red Sea (The National, 2024).
Trade routed around the Cape of Good Hope surged an estimated 74% above prior-year levels in early 2024, lengthening voyages and raising fuel and charter costs (UNCTAD, 2024).
The Red Sea diversions materially raised shipping costs and delivery times for goods moving between Asia and Europe through 2024 (IMF, 2024).
The global third-party logistics (3PL) market is forecast to reach US$2,615.83 billion by 2034, growing at a 10.5% CAGR (GlobeNewswire, 2025).

Southeast Asia and Singapore logistics statistics

The Singapore freight and logistics market was valued at about US$24.53 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach US$35.37 billion by 2031 (6.26% CAGR) (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).
The ASEAN road freight transport market was expected to reach US$119.43 billion in 2025, growing to US$160.11 billion by 2030 (6.04% CAGR) (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).
Southeast Asia’s cross-border e-commerce logistics market was estimated at US$9.08 billion in 2025, rising to US$15.39 billion by 2030 (11.14% CAGR) (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).
Singapore held the top global rank on the World Bank Logistics Performance Index with a score of 4.3 out of 5 (World Bank LPI, 2023).
The Port of Singapore handled a record 41.12 million TEU in 2024 (up 5.4%), with roughly 90% of that volume being transshipment cargo bound for other markets (MPA Singapore, 2025).
Total cargo throughput at the Port of Singapore rose to 622.67 million tonnes in 2024, a 5.2% increase on 2023 (MPA Singapore, 2025).

Resilience and reshoring

The share of CEOs and COOs planning to bring supply chains closer to their end markets rose to 81% in 2024, up 18 points from 63% (Bain & Company, 2024).
Nearly two-thirds of executives (64%) reported active reshoring, near-shoring or split-shoring moves in 2024 (Bain & Company, 2024).
The share of firms shifting operations out of China climbed to 69% in 2024, from 55% in 2022 (QIMA, 2024).
Sourcing diversification is reshaping demand: inspection volumes in Q2 2025 jumped 73% year on year in Egypt, 53% in Morocco and 35% in Tunisia as brands spread supply risk (QIMA, 2025).
The share of supply chain leaders leaning on larger inventory buffers to manage disruption fell to 34% in 2024, from 59% a year earlier, as firms moved toward dual sourcing and regionalisation (McKinsey, 2024).
Some 96% of supply chain executives said they were under pressure to balance disruption preparedness against the cost of holding excess inventory (McKinsey, 2024).

Technology and AI adoption

28% of supply chain firms reported using AI in 2024, with a further 54% planning to adopt it within five years (MHI & Deloitte, 2025).
55% of supply chain leaders were increasing technology and innovation spending, and 45% planned to buy automation equipment such as AS/RS and robotics within three years (MHI & Deloitte, 2025).
63% of respondents believed robotics and automation could disrupt or create competitive advantage, the highest of any technology surveyed, and 83% expected to adopt it within five years (MHI & Deloitte, 2025).
Generative AI could reduce the lead time for producing supply chain documentation by up to 60%, with an estimated US$18 billion of value at stake in supply chain operations (McKinsey, 2024).

Sustainability and labour

Scope 3 emissions account for about 75% of a company’s total carbon footprint on average, making the supply chain the dominant sustainability challenge (MIT Sloan, 2024).
The share of companies including sustainability metrics in supplier scorecards rose to 64%, up from 38% in 2020 (MIT CTL, 2024).
Around 76% of supply chain and logistics leaders across North America and Europe reported workforce shortages in 2024, with 37% describing them as high to extreme (Descartes via Logistics Viewpoints, 2024).
US businesses face a projected shortfall of 1.1 million supply chain workers by 2035 without stronger recruitment and automation (Accenture via Modern Materials Handling, 2024).

How WhiteBox helps

These supply chain statistics point to one conclusion: resilience now depends on visibility, buffer discipline and fast regional fulfilment. WhiteBox helps Singapore and Southeast Asia brands cut stockouts and overstock through 3PL services in Singapore and regional distribution. Talk to our team to see how the numbers apply to your operation.

Frequently asked questions

How much do supply chain disruptions cost? Costs vary by scope, but disruption events rose 38% globally in 2024 (Resilinc), procurement-linked disruptions cost the average large firm around US$16 million a year (Coupa), and inventory distortion alone cost retailers about US$1.7 trillion in 2024 (IHL Group).

What is inventory distortion and why does it matter? Inventory distortion is the combined cost of out-of-stocks and overstocks. In 2024 it reached roughly US$1.7 trillion worldwide, US$1.2 trillion from lost sales and US$554 billion tied up in excess stock (IHL Group, 2024).

How disrupted was global shipping in 2024? Red Sea attacks pushed container traffic through the Suez Canal down by roughly 90% in 2024, diverting ships around the Cape of Good Hope and lifting voyage times and costs (UNCTAD, 2024).

How big is the Southeast Asia logistics market? The ASEAN road freight market was worth about US$119.43 billion in 2025 and cross-border e-commerce logistics US$9.08 billion, both growing at mid-to-high single- and double-digit rates (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).

Are companies actually adopting AI in the supply chain? Yes, but adoption is early: 28% of firms reported using AI in 2024, with 54% more planning to within five years (MHI & Deloitte, 2025).

Sources

Cite us: Please credit WhiteBox (whitebox.sg) and link back to this page when referencing this compilation of supply chain statistics.