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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
HONG KONG, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PhotonPay, a leading global digital financial infrastructure platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Stripe, a financial infrastructure platform for businesses. By integrating Stripe's robust infrastructure, PhotonPay is elevating its online acquiring capabilities, ensuring merchants can scale seamlessly across multiple regions with unmatched efficiency and reliability.
Through this partnership, PhotonPay will deepen the integration of Stripe's payment infrastructure into its platform, strengthening the breadth and resilience of its online payment capabilities. By combining the advantages of both parties, PhotonPay aims to deliver a more comprehensive and seamless payment experience for merchants and end consumers across diverse markets.
To date, PhotonPay has established a formidable global network spanning 20+ local markets and 100+ currencies. Built upon this extensive reach, PhotonPay's online payment solution is designed to balance broad coverage with localized performance. Beyond major credit cards, PhotonPay supports a wide range of payment methods, including e-wallets, local bank transfers and real-time payment.
This collaboration with Stripe further amplifies PhotonPay's offering with an extensive suite of payment methods, empowering businesses worldwide to effortlessly align with local consumer habits while maintaining the simplicity of a unified capital management interface.
Beyond extending payment coverage, the partnership also enhances how payment capabilities are deployed and scaled across markets. Stripe's highly standardized and modular payment technology enables PhotonPay to integrate new payment features with greater efficiency, accelerating time to market while reducing integration complexity for merchants. This approach allows PhotonPay to deliver online payment services in a more structured and scalable manner.
Furthermore, PhotonPay continuously leverages AI to enhance acquiring capabilities and transaction quality. Driven by intelligent routing and smart retry mechanisms, PhotonPay dynamically selects optimal processing paths, effectively reducing checkout abandonment and maximizing the commercial value of every transaction. Meanwhile, the AI-driven risk engine embedded within the platform monitors transactions in real time to detect and block fraudulent activity, helping improve overall conversion performance while ensuring the security of funds and data.
"This collaboration with Stripe is a strategic leap for PhotonPay," said Chao Xu, VP of Product at PhotonPay. "By combining Stripe's global reach with our specialized service, we are delivering a truly unified and resilient payment solution. This partnership further reinforces our core mission: connect the global digital economy."
About PhotonPay
Founded in Hong Kong in 2015, PhotonPay is a trusted fintech partner for over 200,000 businesses worldwide. Leveraged by our extensive global service network and robust regulatory licenses across major jurisdictions, we offer a comprehensive product suite—including Global Accounts, Card Issuing, Global Acquiring, Payouts, FX Management, and Embedded Finance.
With over 10 regional offices and a footprint spanning 200+ countries and territories, PhotonPay is dedicated to building a high-efficiency, secure, and programmable payment experience. We help our clients navigate the complexities of the modern payment landscape, allowing them to scale globally with ease and confidence.
Connect the world, value by PhotonPay.
About Stripe
Stripe is a technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet. Businesses of every size—from new startups to public companies—use our software to accept payments and manage their businesses online.
Stripe has dual headquarters in San Francisco and Dublin, as well as offices in London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, and other locations around the world.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
PhotonPay Scales Global Footprint with Stripe to Deliver Next-Gen Online Payment Solutions
