Global Value Chains Outlook 2026: Orchestrating Corporate and National Agility
The Global Value Chains Outlook 2026: Orchestrating Corporate and National Agility, published by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Kearney, highlights a fundamental shift in how global supply chains operate — from temporary disruptions to persistent structural volatility.
Drawing on insights from more than 100 expert consultations and over 300 business executives worldwide, the report offers an action-oriented playbook for both the private and public sectors to navigate an increasingly uncertain global economy.
Key insights include:
Volatility is now structural, not cyclical — businesses and governments must prepare for ongoing disruption rather than short-term shocks.
Resilience has become a core driver of growth, with three in four leaders prioritising investment in resilient value chains.
Adaptive supply networks — companies are encouraged to redesign their supply chains around orchestration, distributed scale and optionality to unlock agility and competitiveness.
Policy frameworks to strengthen national competitiveness, focusing on industrial readiness, adaptive ecosystems and future-ready manufacturing.
The report also introduces a Manufacturing and Supply Chain Readiness Navigator — a new data-driven tool that helps businesses and governments assess strategic manufacturing footprint needs and readiness.
This outlook underscores the importance of corporate foresight and policy agility in a world where geopolitical fragmentation, technological acceleration, and economic uncertainty are reshaping value creation and investment decisions globally.