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Industry looks to AI, cost controls, supply chain re-engineering as tools to cope
ABU DHABI, UAE, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Logistics executives are bracing for a year of volatility in trade, geopolitics and the global economy, and managing uncertainty by turning to AI, scrutinizing costs, and reconfiguring their supply chains, according to the 2026 Agility Emerging Markets Index.
In a survey of 503 industry professionals, 86% say they expect increased volatility in 2026 or view trade, political and economic turbulence as the "new normal."
The Agility survey shows near-universal logistics industry adoption of AI. Ninety-eight percent of respondents say their companies are using artificial intelligence to manage a piece of their supply chain or operations. The survey also suggests that shifts in global production and sourcing – spurred first by COVID, then U.S.-China friction, and last year by a wave of tariff increases – are continuous today as companies restructure and fine tune their supply chains.
"Leaders in business and government realize there is no comfort zone, no time to rest. They're searching for durable paths to growth at a time of extraordinary uncertainty," says Agility Chairman Tarek Sultan. "They see AI as both a contributor to volatility and a tool to manage it. They're facing new trade barriers in real time. They're pushing the energy transition, and they're navigating conflict between economic partners."
The survey and Index are Agility's 17th annual snapshot of industry sentiment and ranking the world's 50 leading emerging markets. The Index ranks countries for overall competitiveness based on domestic and international logistics strengths, business climates and digital readiness -- factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers, distributors and investors.
The 2026 Index features in-depth analysis of the Arabian Gulf economies. Individually and as a group, the six Gulf countries are positioning themselves as global transit and logistics hubs, investing heavily in AI, energy transition, and talent development. The GCC area is "thriving" as a trade crossroads, strengthened by rapid adoption and scaling of AI, and its ability to remain on good terms with both the U.S. and China. "Volatility won't derail (Gulf) ambition," the Index says.
Stability prevailed at the top of the 50-country Index rankings. China, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar, Mexico, Thailand and Brazil rank in the top 10 in the 2026 Index.
The six Gulf countries all are among the top 12 for best business conditions, while the countries most digitally ready are China, Malaysia, India, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
In international logistics opportunities, China, India, Mexico, UAE and Saudi Arabia rank highest. In domestic logistics, the leaders are China, India, Indonesia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
2026 Index Highlights
SURVEY
- Supply Chains – Supply chain diversification and reconfiguration by global companies is continuous today. Ninety-seven percent of executives surveyed say their companies have or will soon shift some production and sourcing.
- Risks – Companies see tariffs and trade protection as the risk they are least prepared for. The leading tools they are using to cope with trade turmoil: supplier diversification, freight consolidation and strategic warehousing.
- Sustainability – A significant percentage – 48% -- say they their companies are pausing or slowing on sustainability. The most frequently cited reasons: cost-cutting, shifting business priorities, and difficulty showing return on investment.
Transport Intelligence (Ti), a leading analysis and research firm for the logistics industry, has compiled the Index since it was launched in 2009.
John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of Ti, said: "One phrase which came up time and again throughout our research was 'structural uncertainty' -- caused by geopolitical fragmentation, trade policy volatility and uneven economic momentum. The Index confirms that supply chain companies aren't retreating from this uncertainty but instead are engineering around it. Looking at emerging markets, we see advanced digital tools being embedded in some while others are constrained by skill, infrastructure and access to capital. Since its inception, the Agility Emerging Market Index has enabled investors to differentiate between those countries which have fully embraced the opportunities and those which are lagging behind." "
2026 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index: agility.com/2026index
About Agility
Agility is a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses. Its portfolio of diversified international assets includes the world's largest aviation services company (Menzies Aviation); a global fuel logistics business (Tristar); a leading logistics parks developer and operator across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (Agility Logistics Parks); and other businesses in digital logistics, e-commerce logistics, remote-site services, and public-sector logistics. It holds minority stakes in DSV, the world's largest freight forwarder; Reem Mall, a mega-mall in Abu Dhabi; commercial real estate and supply chain companies in the GCC, and emerging technology companies in e-commerce enablement, energy transition, digital supply chain, and more. Agility Global has a global footprint across six continents and 80+ countries, with a workforce of 68,000 employees. It is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
For more information about Agility, visit:
Website: www.agility.com
Twitter: twitter.com/agility
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility
YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp
Industry looks to AI, cost controls, supply chain re-engineering as tools to cope
ABU DHABI, UAE, Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Logistics executives are bracing for a year of volatility in trade, geopolitics and the global economy, and managing uncertainty by turning to AI, scrutinizing costs, and reconfiguring their supply chains, according to the 2026 Agility Emerging Markets Index.
In a survey of 503 industry professionals, 86% say they expect increased volatility in 2026 or view trade, political and economic turbulence as the "new normal."
The Agility survey shows near-universal logistics industry adoption of AI. Ninety-eight percent of respondents say their companies are using artificial intelligence to manage a piece of their supply chain or operations. The survey also suggests that shifts in global production and sourcing – spurred first by COVID, then U.S.-China friction, and last year by a wave of tariff increases – are continuous today as companies restructure and fine tune their supply chains.
"Leaders in business and government realize there is no comfort zone, no time to rest. They're searching for durable paths to growth at a time of extraordinary uncertainty," says Agility Chairman Tarek Sultan. "They see AI as both a contributor to volatility and a tool to manage it. They're facing new trade barriers in real time. They're pushing the energy transition, and they're navigating conflict between economic partners."
The survey and Index are Agility's 17th annual snapshot of industry sentiment and ranking the world's 50 leading emerging markets. The Index ranks countries for overall competitiveness based on domestic and international logistics strengths, business climates and digital readiness -- factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, air and ocean carriers, distributors and investors.
The 2026 Index features in-depth analysis of the Arabian Gulf economies. Individually and as a group, the six Gulf countries are positioning themselves as global transit and logistics hubs, investing heavily in AI, energy transition, and talent development. The GCC area is "thriving" as a trade crossroads, strengthened by rapid adoption and scaling of AI, and its ability to remain on good terms with both the U.S. and China. "Volatility won't derail (Gulf) ambition," the Index says.
Stability prevailed at the top of the 50-country Index rankings. China, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar, Mexico, Thailand and Brazil rank in the top 10 in the 2026 Index.
The six Gulf countries all are among the top 12 for best business conditions, while the countries most digitally ready are China, Malaysia, India, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
In international logistics opportunities, China, India, Mexico, UAE and Saudi Arabia rank highest. In domestic logistics, the leaders are China, India, Indonesia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
2026 Index Highlights
SURVEY
- Supply Chains – Supply chain diversification and reconfiguration by global companies is continuous today. Ninety-seven percent of executives surveyed say their companies have or will soon shift some production and sourcing.
- Risks – Companies see tariffs and trade protection as the risk they are least prepared for. The leading tools they are using to cope with trade turmoil: supplier diversification, freight consolidation and strategic warehousing.
- Sustainability – A significant percentage – 48% -- say they their companies are pausing or slowing on sustainability. The most frequently cited reasons: cost-cutting, shifting business priorities, and difficulty showing return on investment.
Transport Intelligence (Ti), a leading analysis and research firm for the logistics industry, has compiled the Index since it was launched in 2009.
John Manners-Bell, Chief Executive of Ti, said: "One phrase which came up time and again throughout our research was 'structural uncertainty' -- caused by geopolitical fragmentation, trade policy volatility and uneven economic momentum. The Index confirms that supply chain companies aren't retreating from this uncertainty but instead are engineering around it. Looking at emerging markets, we see advanced digital tools being embedded in some while others are constrained by skill, infrastructure and access to capital. Since its inception, the Agility Emerging Market Index has enabled investors to differentiate between those countries which have fully embraced the opportunities and those which are lagging behind." "
2026 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index: agility.com/2026index
About Agility
Agility is a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses. Its portfolio of diversified international assets includes the world's largest aviation services company (Menzies Aviation); a global fuel logistics business (Tristar); a leading logistics parks developer and operator across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (Agility Logistics Parks); and other businesses in digital logistics, e-commerce logistics, remote-site services, and public-sector logistics. It holds minority stakes in DSV, the world's largest freight forwarder; Reem Mall, a mega-mall in Abu Dhabi; commercial real estate and supply chain companies in the GCC, and emerging technology companies in e-commerce enablement, energy transition, digital supply chain, and more. Agility Global has a global footprint across six continents and 80+ countries, with a workforce of 68,000 employees. It is publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).
For more information about Agility, visit:
Website: www.agility.com
Twitter: twitter.com/agility
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility
YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Agility: Global Logistics Execs Predict Volatile 2026
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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, March 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global crypto platform built on trust, today announced the launch of KuCoin Skills Hub, an evolving open skills marketplace designed to give AI agents broader crypto-native access through standardized, modular capabilities. KuCoin Skills Hub is compatible with mainstream agent frameworks and development environments, helping retail users access crypto through more intuitive natural-language interactions while enabling institutions, developers, and quantitative teams to build automated research, trading, and asset management workflows more efficiently. Rooted in KuCoin's belief that technology should serve people and be built on trusted, transparent infrastructure, the launch marks a further step in modularizing crypto capabilities for practical AI adoption in real-world use cases.
As AI agents evolve from conversational tools into execution-oriented systems, crypto infrastructure must become more accessible, composable, and action-ready. Historically, fragmented tools, complex interfaces, and technical barriers have limited advanced crypto workflows to a relatively narrow group of users. KuCoin Skills Hub is designed to help close that gap by converting complex underlying functions into structured skills that can be accessed more naturally and deployed more broadly.
Trust, security, and execution control remain central to the platform's architecture. KuCoin Skills Hub incorporates safeguards around permission control, credential isolation, sensitive data protection, execution boundaries, and exception handling to support more secure and controllable deployment in real-world environments.
Through natural-language interaction, users can access market insights, monitor signals and market activity, and query exchange data more efficiently through the Skills Hub. Support for deeper interaction scenarios such as wallet operations, on-chain insights, liquidity provision, staking, lending, and yield strategies will be introduced in future releases, enabling a more unified workflow for insight, decision-making, execution, and broader ecosystem participation.
"AI is changing how people interact with the crypto economy, but the real value of technology lies in whether it can serve real users on top of infrastructure they can trust," said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. "Built on KuCoin's expanding ecosystem and broader crypto-native AI initiatives, KuCoin Skills Hub is designed to transform complex crypto capabilities into more intuitive, scalable, and usable modules — making crypto more accessible for everyday users while giving institutions and developers a more flexible foundation for the next generation of intelligent applications. We see this as an important step toward a more open, practical, and trustworthy AI-enabled crypto ecosystem."
Looking ahead, KuCoin Skills Hub will continue to expand its skills library, data sources, protocol integrations, and operational capabilities, further strengthening the open infrastructure layer needed for the next phase of AI-enabled crypto innovation.
About KuCoin
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform trusted by over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. The platform delivers innovative digital-asset services, offering access to 1,000+ listed tokens, spot and futures trading, institutional wealth management, and a Web3 wallet.
Recognized by Forbes and Hurun, KuCoin holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 certifications, underscoring its commitment to top-tier security. With AUSTRAC registration in Australia and a MiCA license in Austria, KuCoin continues expanding its regulated footprint under CEO BC Wong, building a reliable and trusted digital-asset ecosystem.
Learn more: www.kucoin.com
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, March 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- KuCoin, a leading global crypto platform built on trust, today announced the launch of KuCoin Skills Hub, an evolving open skills marketplace designed to give AI agents broader crypto-native access through standardized, modular capabilities. KuCoin Skills Hub is compatible with mainstream agent frameworks and development environments, helping retail users access crypto through more intuitive natural-language interactions while enabling institutions, developers, and quantitative teams to build automated research, trading, and asset management workflows more efficiently. Rooted in KuCoin's belief that technology should serve people and be built on trusted, transparent infrastructure, the launch marks a further step in modularizing crypto capabilities for practical AI adoption in real-world use cases.
As AI agents evolve from conversational tools into execution-oriented systems, crypto infrastructure must become more accessible, composable, and action-ready. Historically, fragmented tools, complex interfaces, and technical barriers have limited advanced crypto workflows to a relatively narrow group of users. KuCoin Skills Hub is designed to help close that gap by converting complex underlying functions into structured skills that can be accessed more naturally and deployed more broadly.
Trust, security, and execution control remain central to the platform's architecture. KuCoin Skills Hub incorporates safeguards around permission control, credential isolation, sensitive data protection, execution boundaries, and exception handling to support more secure and controllable deployment in real-world environments.
Through natural-language interaction, users can access market insights, monitor signals and market activity, and query exchange data more efficiently through the Skills Hub. Support for deeper interaction scenarios such as wallet operations, on-chain insights, liquidity provision, staking, lending, and yield strategies will be introduced in future releases, enabling a more unified workflow for insight, decision-making, execution, and broader ecosystem participation.
"AI is changing how people interact with the crypto economy, but the real value of technology lies in whether it can serve real users on top of infrastructure they can trust," said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. "Built on KuCoin's expanding ecosystem and broader crypto-native AI initiatives, KuCoin Skills Hub is designed to transform complex crypto capabilities into more intuitive, scalable, and usable modules — making crypto more accessible for everyday users while giving institutions and developers a more flexible foundation for the next generation of intelligent applications. We see this as an important step toward a more open, practical, and trustworthy AI-enabled crypto ecosystem."
Looking ahead, KuCoin Skills Hub will continue to expand its skills library, data sources, protocol integrations, and operational capabilities, further strengthening the open infrastructure layer needed for the next phase of AI-enabled crypto innovation.
About KuCoin
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform trusted by over 40 million users across 200+ countries and regions. The platform delivers innovative digital-asset services, offering access to 1,000+ listed tokens, spot and futures trading, institutional wealth management, and a Web3 wallet.
Recognized by Forbes and Hurun, KuCoin holds SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 certifications, underscoring its commitment to top-tier security. With AUSTRAC registration in Australia and a MiCA license in Austria, KuCoin continues expanding its regulated footprint under CEO BC Wong, building a reliable and trusted digital-asset ecosystem.
Learn more: www.kucoin.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
KuCoin Launches Skills Hub, Turning Agent-Ready Skills Into Crypto Capabilities
