More than half of UK businesses experienced shipment delays of up to a month across the past year, according to new research from Vinturas, as sustained geopolitical, tariff and labour disruptions continue to force companies to rethink global sourcing strategies.

The Censuswide survey of 412 supply chain and logistics decision-makers, 212 of which are based in the UK, reveals that 55% of firms trading internationally reported month-long delays across the past year, as geopolitics, tariffs and cyber hits continue to take hold on trade.

Disruption extended beyond isolated incidents. Businesses reported that, on average, 16% of their total shipments arrived later than quoted lead times, were lost or were stolen.

This impact is moving closer to revenue and customer relationships. Finished goods (25%), automotive components (24%), and medical supplies and pharmaceuticals (24%) are among the most disrupted products. Machinery and mechanical parts (23%), consumer goods (21%), chemicals and industrial inputs (21%), and food (17%) also rank highly.

When asked about their biggest challenges in managing global supply chains, almost a third (29%) cited ongoing geopolitical tensions around the world, while a quarter (25%) pointed to tariffs and other trade restrictions. A fifth (17%) cited a shortage of critical materials, rare earths and semi-conductors, which risks bringing production to a standstill and disrupting key manufacturing sectors.

In response, companies are redrawing trade routes. A third of UK supply chains (33%) have shifted sourcing from North America to Europe in the last year. A further 28% have moved supply from Europe to the UK, and a quarter (25%) have redirected sourcing from North America to South America or Canada to manage rising costs and reduce exposure to tariffs and trade restrictions. A further quarter (24%) has redirected supply chains from the Middle East to Europe, or North America.

Paperwork and People Drive Delays

However, rerouting supply chain ecosystems has not resolved deeper operational strain. A third of (32%) UK supply chain leaders admit they remain stuck reacting to disruptions rather than focusing on long-term strategic priorities.

Leaders most commonly cite delays caused by inspections and compliance checks (16%), labour shortages and workforce disruptions (10%), regulatory compliance and data privacy concerns (10%) as limiting their ability to respond at pace. Continued reliance on manual processes and fragmented systems is also slowing recovery when disruption hits.

Capability and data gaps are widening exposure. One in ten (10%) report a lack of technological integration between different systems and platforms. A shortage of skilled data analysts (9%), and data quality and accuracy issues (7%) continue to undermine visibility and coordinated decision-making across trading networks.

Structural exposure is also amplifying risk. One in ten (12%) highlight cyberattacks and data breaches as a vulnerability, and 17% claim their dependence on a single source, or concentrated suppliers is hindering their operational agility – leaving already fragile networks more prone to disruption when it hits.

Together, the findings suggest disruption is no longer episodic but sustained – placing resilience, visibility and coordination back at the centre of modern supply chain competitiveness.

Ronald Kleijwegt, CEO, Vinturas, commented:

“Continuous disruption is fast becoming the default setting for global supply chain ecosystems. Disruption isn’t episodic anymore – it’s structural.

Businesses are right to rethink sourcing strategies, but shifting routes alone won’t fix underlying weaknesses. Delays, lack of data sharing and coordination breakdowns persist across trading networks, regardless of geography.

The organisations that will succeed are those addressing the root causes of disruption and embedding resilience into their trade ecosystems – replacing manual processes with interoperable network solutions and establishing a single, trusted source of data across trading partners.

In today’s volatile environment, supply chain ecosystem resilience isn’t optional. It’s fundamental to protecting revenue and maintaining competitiveness.”