The findings suggest companies are adapting to a prolonged period of global instability rather than expecting supply chains to return to pre-pandemic norms.
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Businesses across Southern Africa should not become complacent despite a slight easing in global supply chain concerns, as geopolitical conflicts, cyber threats and trade uncertainty continue to pose significant risks to procurement and business operations, according to the latest Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Pulse Survey.
The second-quarter 2026 survey found that while short-term concerns over supply chain disruption have eased from the record highs recorded earlier this year, both short- and long-term anxiety remain among the highest levels ever measured by CIPS.
The findings suggest companies are adapting to a prolonged period of global instability rather than expecting supply chains to return to pre-pandemic norms.
For Southern Africa, the report highlights particular vulnerabilities given the region's reliance on imported fuel, industrial equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing inputs, while key industries such as mining, agriculture, automotive manufacturing and retail depend heavily on efficient global logistics networks.
Conflict in the Middle East remains the biggest source of concern for procurement professionals globally, with 75% of respondents identifying it as the leading risk to supply chains. This was followed by broader geopolitical instability, cited by 67%, while 33% pointed to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Although these conflicts occur outside the region, CIPS said they continue to influence freight routes, shipping costs, energy markets and supplier availability, with knock-on effects for Southern African businesses.
The survey also found cyber security has become an increasingly prominent concern, overtaking logistics disruption as one of the top three risks expected to affect supply chains over the next 12 months.
Procurement professionals warned that cyber-attacks targeting suppliers, logistics providers or critical infrastructure could quickly disrupt production schedules and delay deliveries.
The report also pointed to continued cost pressures across several sectors, with procurement leaders expecting input prices to rise by more than 10% in shipping and logistics, petroleum and mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and fabricated metal products.
For South African businesses, these increases could translate into higher transport costs, more expensive imported goods and manufacturing inputs, as well as rising food prices and increased costs for mining operations.
Despite persistent cost pressures, organisations are increasingly prioritising resilience over cost savings. Supplier diversification, extending supplier contracts and holding additional inventory emerged as the three most common strategies businesses are adopting to protect supply continuity.
Paul Vos, regional managing director of CIPS Southern Africa, said the survey reflected the realities facing procurement professionals across the region.
"While inflationary pressures have eased in some areas, the operating environment remains highly unpredictable. Businesses can no longer assume that global supply chains will simply return to the way they were before successive geopolitical crises," Vos said.
He added that procurement was becoming a strategic function rather than simply a means of controlling costs.
"For South African organisations, resilience is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage. That means developing broader supplier networks, strengthening regional sourcing where appropriate, improving visibility across the supply chain and ensuring procurement is represented as a strategic function within the business."
Vos said businesses that invest in resilient procurement practices would be better positioned to benefit from expanding intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area while managing future disruptions more effectively.
CIPS Global CEO Ben Farrell said the global trading landscape was undergoing a fundamental transformation.
"The tectonic plates of global trade are shifting. The world we knew has gone. Regionalisation is rising, globalisation is being reshaped, and those organisations that build resilient regional partnerships will be best placed to thrive," he said.
The survey also found that one-third of organisations are already experiencing the effects of evolving US tariff policies, while another 37% are closely monitoring developments, underlining how trade policy uncertainty continues to shape procurement decisions alongside geopolitical tensions.
CIPS chief economist Dr John Glen cautioned that although business sentiment had improved slightly, current concern levels remained historically elevated, indicating that the global economy continues to face significant geopolitical, cyber and supply chain risks.
BUSINESS REPORT