Maersk’s Logistics Trend Map analyses the top ten trends and game changers for global supply chains

Copenhagen – Tariffs, political tensions and conflicts, inflation and recession risks, changing consumer behaviour or underlying challenges like digitisation and AI: Most businesses globally are faced with unseen levels of unpredictability and uncertainty at the moment.

Navigating this complex environment and taking the right focus and decisions has become more difficult than ever across virtually all industries. When it comes to global supply chains Maersk’s new Logistics Trend Map helps now to focus on the most relevant trends and game changers for future supply chain management.

The report is based on comprehensive data analysis by the partner Statista as well as quality expert interviews and insights from more than 500 industry logistics leaders. To identify the trends, we have used AI-driven analytics to explore scientific studies, patents, earnings calls, and startup activities. With the objective of not only identifying the most important trends but also positioning them on the Trend Map, we assessed the data to determine the relevance and level of industry adoption of each trend.

From a list of 30 identified areas The Logistics Trend Map offers deep-dives into the ten most relevant topics such as Supply Chain Visibility, Internet of Things, Supply Chain Diversification, Financial Resilience, Circular Economy, AI, Cyber Security or the latest innovations in E-Commerce and Last-Mile Delivery.

Source: Survey among 570 global logistics decision-makers across various industries conducted by Statista on behalf of Maersk (Q4/2024)

These ten top rated topics and their impact on supply chain management vary significantly across the geographical regions and eight industry verticals (retail, automotive, chemicals, pharma & healthcare, lifestyle & fashion, perishables, technology and FMCG). Filtering the topics by region and industry vertical offers some surprising results: For instance, in retail the reverse logistics/return handling is by far the most pressing challenge for company logistics, said 53% of the interviewed decision-makers (mainly due to its complexity) – even bigger than geopolitical disruptions which were mentioned only by a comparatively low 38% in retail (versus max of 59% in fashion & lifestyle and pharma & healthcare).

The Logistics Trend Map offers also actionable insights on how to leverage the trends to solve problems and unlock growth opportunities.

The Logistics Trend Map can be found and filtered by theme, industry and region here while the full 70 page report is available for download here.

About Maersk

A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. As a global leader in logistics services, the company operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people. Maersk is aiming to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies, new vessels, and reduced GHG emissions fuels*.

*Maersk defines "reduced GHG emissions fuels" as fuels with at least 65% reductions in GHG emissions on a lifecycle basis compared to fossil of 94 g CO2e/MJ.