A DP World report reveals that 94 per cent of trade executives remain optimistic about 2026 despite rising geopolitical and operational challenges, highlighting regional growth prospects and strategic network adaptations.
A new DP World report finds trade executives broadly optimistic about 2026 even as geopolitical and policy headwinds increase. According to DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026, 94% of 3,500 surveyed senior supply chain and logistics leaders expect trade next year to equal or surpass 2025, with 54% forecasting faster expansion and 40% predicting levels on a par with the current year.
That upbeat frontline sentiment sits alongside more cautious macro forecasts. The report highlights the contrast with the International Monetary Fund’s outlook, which projects trade growth by volume slowing to about 2.3% in 2026 from an estimated 3.6% in 2025, underscoring a gap between executive expectations and some institutional projections.
Respondents pointed to regional pockets of opportunity, with Europe most frequently named as the area with the strongest near‑term potential (22%), followed by China (17%), Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%). These regional bets reflect where firms see demand and connectivity advantages forming next year.
Companies are already reshaping networks to cope with greater volatility. The survey shows many are adopting supplier diversification (51%), stocking higher inventories (44%) and pursuing friend‑shoring strategies (36%). Firms are also exploring new maritime and inland routes , 26% plan to use alternative corridors and a further 23% are assessing them , driven by cost savings, better inland connectivity and faster customs processing.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Global trade is becoming increasingly complex, not less so. Our role is clear: to keep trade moving by understanding where friction exists, anticipating where it may emerge next, and investing in the infrastructure, capabilities and partnerships that help our customers operate more efficiently and reliably.”
Margareta Drzeniek, Managing Partner at Horizon Group, said: “What we’re seeing is confidence with contingency plans. Executives are embedding resilience into strategy by diversifying suppliers, reassessing routes and adding options, because volatility is now the baseline. Those best positioned will be the ones who can turn those resilience plans into measurable performance.”
The survey also flags persistent operational choke points: customs clearance was identified by 60% of respondents as a leading source of delay, prompting respondents to prioritise investment in warehousing and logistics hubs (39%), road networks (36%) and border processing infrastructure (36%). These priorities align with DP World’s recent capital deployment; the company reported strong first‑half 2025 results and said it was maintaining a multi‑billion dollar capex programme to expand terminals and logistics capabilities globally.
Taken together, the findings portray an industry preparing for a bumpy trading environment while still betting on growth. Executives appear willing to absorb higher friction through network redesign and targeted investment, positioning companies to capture demand where regional advantages persist even if macro forecasts prove conservative.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.maritimegateway.com/dp-world-survey-trade-leaders-upbeat-on-2026-despite-rising-barriers/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.dpworld.com/en/insights/global-trade-observatory-annual-report-2026 – DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026 reveals that 94% of surveyed senior supply chain and logistics executives anticipate trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed that of 2025, despite rising frictions and volatility. The survey, conducted ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, included 3,500 respondents across eight industries and 19 countries. Notably, 54% expect trade growth to be faster than 2025, and 40% expect it to be equal. However, 53% anticipate high or very high policy uncertainty, and 90% expect trade barriers to rise or remain unchanged. Only 25% foresee a negative impact on their business, with 49% expecting no effect and 26% even seeing a positive impact. This optimism contrasts with macro projections, such as the IMF’s forecast of a 2.3% trade growth in 2026, down from an estimated 3.6% in 2025. When asked about the regions with the greatest trade growth potential in 2026, executives most frequently pointed to Europe (22%) and China (17%), followed by Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%).
- https://www.dpworld.com/en/global-trade-observatory – DP World’s Global Trade Observatory (GTO) dashboard provides insights from over 3,500 senior supply chain and logistics executives, alongside market data, to uncover shifts in global trade. The research reveals differences from traditional industry forecasts, offering a fresh perspective on trade trajectories. The GTO Annual Outlook Report 2026 highlights that 94% of surveyed executives anticipate trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed that of 2025, despite rising frictions and volatility. The survey, conducted ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, included 3,500 respondents across eight industries and 19 countries. Notably, 54% expect trade growth to be faster than 2025, and 40% expect it to be equal. However, 53% anticipate high or very high policy uncertainty, and 90% expect trade barriers to rise or remain unchanged. Only 25% foresee a negative impact on their business, with 49% expecting no effect and 26% even seeing a positive impact. This optimism contrasts with macro projections, such as the IMF’s forecast of a 2.3% trade growth in 2026, down from an estimated 3.6% in 2025. When asked about the regions with the greatest trade growth potential in 2026, executives most frequently pointed to Europe (22%) and China (17%), followed by Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%).
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2025/08/14/dp-world-doubles-first-half-profit-despite-geopolitical-tension-and-red-sea-disruption// – DP World reported strong financial and operational results for the first half of 2025, with revenue growing by 20.4% year-on-year to $11,244 million, driven by strong performance across Ports & Terminals and recent acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA rose 21.4% to $3,033 million, while container volumes increased 5.6% on a like-for-like basis, reaching 45.4 million TEU across the global portfolio. Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, the continued closure of the Red Sea route, and rising uncertainty around global trade tariffs, DP World maintained its growth trajectory. The company continues to invest in strategic growth markets, with $1.08 billion in capital expenditure during the first half of the year. The full-year capex target of $2.5 billion will support expansion in Jebel Ali Port, Drydocks World, Tuna Tekra (India), London Gateway (UK), and Dakar (Senegal), along with DP World Logistics and P&O Maritime Logistics. These investments are focused on enhancing terminal capacity, supply chain integration, and digital capabilities to support long-term trade resilience.
- https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/dp-world-reports-strong-h1-2025-results-revenue-up-204-container-volumes-rise-67 – DP World announced strong financial and operational results for the first half of 2025, underlining the resilience of its integrated global trade platform amid ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Revenue grew by 20.4% year-on-year to $11,244 million, driven by strong performance across Ports & Terminals and recent acquisitions. Adjusted EBITDA rose 21.4% to $3,033 million, while container volumes increased 5.6% on a like-for-like basis, reaching 45.4 million TEU across the global portfolio. Despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds and continued pressure on key shipping corridors, DP World expects to deliver a strong full-year EBITDA performance, supported by sustained throughput growth, operational leverage in Ports & Terminals, strengthening balance sheet, and strategic capex and global integration. The company continues to invest in strategic growth markets, with $1.08 billion in capital expenditure during the first half of the year. The full-year capex target of $2.5 billion will support expansion in Jebel Ali Port, Drydocks World, Tuna Tekra (India), London Gateway (UK), and Dakar (Senegal), along with DP World Logistics and P&O Maritime Logistics. These investments are focused on enhancing terminal capacity, supply chain integration, and digital capabilities to support long-term trade resilience.
- https://www.maritimemag.com/en/dp-world-survey-shows-trade-leaders-upbeat-despite-rising-barriers/ – DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026 reveals that 94% of surveyed senior supply chain and logistics executives anticipate trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed that of 2025, despite rising frictions and volatility. The survey, conducted ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, included 3,500 respondents across eight industries and 19 countries. Notably, 54% expect trade growth to be faster than 2025, and 40% expect it to be equal. However, 53% anticipate high or very high policy uncertainty, and 90% expect trade barriers to rise or remain unchanged. Only 25% foresee a negative impact on their business, with 49% expecting no effect and 26% even seeing a positive impact. This optimism contrasts with macro projections, such as the IMF’s forecast of a 2.3% trade growth in 2026, down from an estimated 3.6% in 2025. When asked about the regions with the greatest trade growth potential in 2026, executives most frequently pointed to Europe (22%) and China (17%), followed by Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%).
- https://www.dpworld.com/en/insights/global-trade-observatory-annual-report-2026 – DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026 reveals that 94% of surveyed senior supply chain and logistics executives anticipate trade growth in 2026 to match or exceed that of 2025, despite rising frictions and volatility. The survey, conducted ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, included 3,500 respondents across eight industries and 19 countries. Notably, 54% expect trade growth to be faster than 2025, and 40% expect it to be equal. However, 53% anticipate high or very high policy uncertainty, and 90% expect trade barriers to rise or remain unchanged. Only 25% foresee a negative impact on their business, with 49% expecting no effect and 26% even seeing a positive impact. This optimism contrasts with macro projections, such as the IMF’s forecast of a 2.3% trade growth in 2026, down from an estimated 3.6% in 2025. When asked about the regions with the greatest trade growth potential in 2026, executives most frequently pointed to Europe (22%) and China (17%), followed by Asia Pacific (14%) and North America (13%).
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 10
Notes: The article references a press release dated January 20, 2026, and cites sources from the same date, indicating high freshness. No evidence of recycled or outdated content was found.
Quotes check
Score: 9
Notes: Direct quotes from Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Margareta Drzeniek are included. These quotes are consistent with those found in the original press release dated January 20, 2026. No discrepancies or variations in wording were noted.
Source reliability
Score: 8
Notes: The primary source is a press release from DP World, which is a reputable company in the logistics sector. However, as a self-reported source, it may present a biased perspective. The article also references other reputable sources, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), enhancing its credibility.
Plausability check
Score: 8
Notes: The claims made in the article align with known industry trends and forecasts. The optimism among trade leaders despite rising barriers is plausible, given the context of ongoing global trade challenges. However, the reliance on self-reported data from DP World executives may introduce bias.
Overall assessment
Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary: The article presents recent findings from DP World’s Global Trade Observatory Annual Outlook Report 2026, with direct quotes from company executives and references to reputable external sources. However, the reliance on self-reported data from DP World introduces potential bias, and the primary data source is not entirely independent. Given these factors, the overall assessment is a PASS with MEDIUM confidence.