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SHANGHAI — A majority of Chinese supply chain and logistics executives plan to diversify suppliers and adopt artificial intelligence in 2026, signaling a strategic pivot from cost and scale toward resilience and digital capability, according to a new DP World survey published on 2 July.
The Global Trade Observatory survey of 292 executives in China found that 58% intend to increase the number of suppliers and diversify sourcing in 2026. The same survey showed that 50% of respondents identified deploying AI as a top growth driver for their business over the next one to three years, while 44% cited wider digitalisation. The findings suggest Chinese firms are building layered, technology enabled trade networks rather than retreating from global maritime corridors.
What the Data Shows
The survey, conducted in November 2025, asked executives about strategic changes planned for 2026. Beyond supplier diversification, 38% said they intend to near shore some operations, 36% plan to friend shore to politically aligned markets, and 32% will increase inventories as a buffer against disruption.
Growth priorities were led by technology and market access. Fifty percent of respondents identified deploying AI as a top driver, 44% cited wider digitalisation, 43% pointed to demand from new markets and consumers, and 34% highlighted new value chains.
The drivers behind these shifts were not purely defensive. Executives cited sustainability and ESG requirements, new technology enabling operational change, greater agility and resilience, local market trade policies and incentives, response to tariffs, and new market entry as key motivators.
Why It Matters for Maritime and Logistics
For carriers, forwarders, port operators, and project cargo handlers, the data point to a more complex routing and sourcing landscape. Chinese firms are adding suppliers and route options but still anchoring flows to China centric port and logistics networks, a pattern some analysts describe as reinforcing Beijing’s existing multi layered maritime and trade architecture.
Glen Hilton, CEO and Managing Director, Asia Pacific at DP World, said China’s “next trade advantage will come from resilience and adaptability, not just scale.” He noted that Chinese companies are already diversifying suppliers, entering new corridors, and investing in digital systems and AI. “What customers increasingly need is not a disconnected set of providers. They need an operating partner that can connect the physical and digital layers of trade,” Hilton said.
Strategic Implications for the Sector
The emphasis on AI and digitalisation aligns closely with the direction set out at China’s “Two Sessions,” where New Quality Productive Forces, including AI and advanced technologies, were positioned as central to the country’s next phase of economic development.
For maritime logistics operators, the practical implications include growing demand for ports and logistics partners that can support diversified routing, higher inventories, and digital visibility, including AI enabled forecasting and optimisation. A concrete example is a Chinese original equipment manufacturer sourcing components from Southeast Asia or friend shored locations but still consolidating flows through Chinese coastal hubs and digital platforms before distribution to Belt and Road markets.
DP World, which handles around 10% of global containerised trade, said it has seen these themes reflected in its work supporting customers in China across sectors including e commerce, automotive, fashion and luxury, food and beverage, healthcare, and technology.
