Editor’s Note
This article highlights the escalating financial and operational toll of supply chain disruptions, drawing on recent data from Swiss Re and Maersk. The findings underscore a critical vulnerability for businesses worldwide, a theme explored in depth in the forthcoming 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report.
Supply chain disruptions cost organizations an estimated $184 billion annually, according to Swiss Re. A recent survey of 2,000 European shipping customers by logistics giant Maersk revealed that 76% experienced supply chain disruptions that delayed their business operations in the past year, with 22% reporting more than 20 disruptive incidents in the same period. These figures underscore the growing vulnerabilities of businesses, as detailed in the 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report, which outlines how companies worldwide must adapt to an increasingly complex and volatile supply chain landscape.
Corporations, governments, investors, and consumers have become more aware of how important the global supply chain is to the everyday function of society. Increasingly, the supply chain is impacted by a multilayering of risks, including natural disasters, geopolitical issues, vendor interconnectivity, and cyberattacks.
As highlighted in the 2025 Global Risk Report, modern supply chain disruptions stem from a range of factors, including climate change, natural disasters, cyberattacks, fraud, and geopolitical instability. Conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in the Middle East continue to exacerbate these challenges. Gone are the days when companies could shift blame to suppliers without accountability. The globalization and interconnectivity of supply chains has made them increasingly susceptible to cyber incidents, material shortages, and regulatory scrutiny.
Consumers and governments alike are demanding greater transparency, pushing companies to disclose where products come from, how they are sourced, and whether their manufacturing processes harm people or the environment.
The 2025 Global Risk Report notes that in response, governments worldwide have introduced stricter regulations, particularly in the European Union, where new and existing legislation is enforcing greater oversight and compliance.
In the 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report, multidimensional experts who combine scientific, technical, financial, and risk management expertise identify and explore key business risks shaping the future of supply chain resilience, including:
– Geopolitical instability
– Natural disasters and climate science
– Maritime route disruptions
– Regulatory fragmentation
– Cybersecurity threats
– Trade and tariff threats
– Critical minerals dependency
– Financial risks and fraud
For businesses seeking to build resilient supply chains, the 2025 J.S. Held Global Risk Report serves as an important guide, providing expert insights and data-driven analysis to help companies navigate the evolving risk landscape.
J.S. Held experts serve as trusted advisors to global clients on these and other risks, crafting business strategies, leveraging technology seeking to mitigate risk, and optimizing business opportunities to build resilience in an era of uncertainty.
Supply chain risk is just one of the five key areas analyzed in the J.S. Held 2025 Global Risk Report. Other topics include sustainability, the rise of crypto and digital assets, AI and data regulations, and managing cyber risk.