Editor’s Note
This article highlights the CSCMP’s latest State of Logistics Report, which underscores the persistent volatility and uncertainty facing global supply chains. The findings serve as a crucial reminder for businesses to prioritize agility and resilience in their logistics planning.
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has released the findings of its annual State of Logistics Report. The longstanding report indicates that businesses continue to navigate through a fog of supply chain and economic uncertainty. What is true today may not be true tomorrow in this rapidly changing landscape.
Created annually for CSCMP by global consulting firm Kearney and presented by Penske Logistics, this publication offers the industry a close-up of the American economy through the lens of the logistics sector.
The report further suggests ongoing fragile business optimism driven by fluctuating demand, emerging technological disruptions, and a renewed need for resilience and agility.
Notable trends and statistics include:
– U.S. business logistics costs are $2.58 trillion, which amounts to 8.8% of the national GDP. Last year, the numbers were $2.45 trillion and 8.8% respectively.
– The logistics industry in 2024 saw a return to pre-pandemic patterns in some areas, but was also marked by flat business volumes, excess truck capacity and rising operational costs.
– E-commerce continues to move along at a brisk pace, with global online retail sales nearing $6.3 trillion, resulting in more efficient last-mile delivery, increasingly agile warehousing, and a stronger demand for air freight.
– Geopolitical tensions, combined with proposed and enacted tariffs, and shifting trade regulations around the world, have combined to increase transit times, capacity constraints, rate volatility in ocean freight (leading to longer home package delivery times and delays), and a greater reliance from third-party logistics providers to deliver end-to-end support.
– Mexico overtook China as the United States’ largest trading partner in 2024. Transactions between the U.S. and Mexico topped at a record $840 billion, a 6% year-over-year improvement.
– Technology investment continues to be an essential component of the modern supply chain. Data analytics, artificial intelligence as well as robotics and automation are among the headliners supply chain leaders are working on.
— Mark Baxa, CSCMP president and CEO
— Korhan Acar, Kearney partner and lead author for the State of Logistics Report
— Andy Moses, senior vice president of solutions and sales strategy, Penske Logistics
