2026 STATE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SUPPLY CHAIN
VOLUME PROJECTIONS FOR 2026: CONDITIONAL CONFIDENCE
Each year, one question consistently provides the clearest read on shipper sentiment: how organizations expect their shipping volumes to change in the year ahead. Asked consistently for more than a decade, this forward-looking metric offers valuable insight into how shippers are approaching planning, risk, and growth—often before those dynamics fully materialize in the market.
For 2026, the results point to a notable shift in posture.
59.0% of respondents project an increase in shipping volumes, down from 69.7% in 2025 and the lowest share recorded in the past 10 years. At first glance, that headline suggests a sharp drop in optimism. However, the full distribution tells a more nuanced—and more instructive—story.
SHIPPING VOLUMES
80.0%
75.9%
75.9%
73.4%
73.4%
70.0%
69.7%
69.6%
68.4%
66.6%
66.2%
63.2%
60.0%
59.0%
50.0%
40.0%
37.4%
30.0%
28.6%
28.6%
28.5%
27.4%
25.5%
24.7%
24.6%
21.9%
21.4%
20.0%
16.8%
12.2%
10.0%
8.0%
7.3%
5.7%
5.3%
5.1%
3.6%
3.1%
3.0%
2.3%
1.9%
0.0%
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Increase
Decrease
No Change
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