Global survey finds nearly all supply chain leaders rank geopolitical instability as a leading threat to business continuity and operational resilience
CHICAGO, IL, June 30, 2025 – A new study by Sphera, a leading provider of integrated sustainability and process safety software, data and consulting services, reveals procurement and supply chain leaders are focused on safeguarding supply chain resilience, with pre-empting political risk paramount for firms looking to stay ahead of volatility.
The research identifies geopolitical risk as the most pressing concern among respondents, underscoring that supply chains are increasingly entangled with global political dynamics.
The report, which surveyed over 200 Chief Procurement Officers and Chief Supply Chain Officers across the US, UK, Germany and Canada, shows that concern prevails among supply chain leaders about geopolitical, economic, and financial risks, underscoring a collective vigilance about the ripple effects of global uncertainty. The survey reveals that beyond macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, supply chains are being reshaped by supplier dynamics and the use of emerging technologies. Where some organizations are doubling down on nearshoring or diversifying their supplier base, others are prioritizing risk monitoring tools, financial hedging strategies, and deeper supplier collaboration.
“Business cannot afford to underestimate the impact of geopolitical disruptions on supply chains,” said Naved Siddique, chief product officer at Sphera. “Organizations prepared to be decisive can mitigate the effects of global political developments on supply chains through investing in supply chain transparency and using emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.”
Highlights from the research include:
- Geopolitical risk: 95% of CPOs express concern, with 64% “very concerned” about tariffs, trade wars, armed conflict, and sanctions.
- Regulatory uncertainty: 91% of CPOs and 88.5% of CSCOs singled out regulatory uncertainty, including evolving sustainability reporting standards, as a significant concern. Nearly half of CPOs (48.5%) are “very concerned”, reflecting how rapidly evolving compliance expectations are challenging supply chain teams to stay agile.
- Supplier Financial Health: 88% of respondents expressed concern about the financial health of their suppliers. Four in 10 supply chain leaders were “very concerned”, with an additional almost 5 in 10 “somewhat concerned”, meaning that supplier solvency is a risk being actively tracked for 9 in 10 leaders.
These findings confirm that the new collaboration between Sphera and risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft comes at the right time for organisations looking to build resilience to an increasingly uncertain global risk landscape. Sphera’s clients can now access dozens of Verisk Maplecroft’s political, human rights and environmental risk indices, providing them with unrivalled, data-led insight into the key risks affecting their operations and supply chains.
The future of supply chains is being shaped by unprecedented uncertainties, from shifting trade policies to raw material shortages. Businesses that embrace agility, intelligence, and resilience will not only survive future disruptions but thrive in a world where proactive supply chain tracking is no longer an option, but a necessity.
For more information about Sphera’s geopolitical and macroeconomic risk research, click here.
For more information about Maplecroft, click here.
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Research is based on a survey of 200 supply chain leaders across the US, UK, Germany, and Canada. It was carried out in Q2 2025.
About Sphera
Sphera is the leading provider of integrated sustainability and operational risk management software, data and consulting services focusing on Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S), Process Safety, Product Stewardship and Supply Chain Transparency. For more than 30 years, we have served 8,500 customers and a million-plus users in 100 countries to help companies keep their people safe, their products sustainable and their operations productive. Learn more about Sphera at https://sphera.com/. Follow Sphera on LinkedIn.
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