Tariffs force supply chains to rethink warehousing and freight
The report, titled The Rise of the Tariff-Optimised Supply Chain: Inside the New Rules of Global Trade, analysed more than one million US customs entries and found the 2025 US tariff policy significantly changed how companies manage global trade.
According to the report, businesses initially responded through short-term measures including alternative routing, temporary freight mode changes and increased use of USMCA trade pathways. Over time, however, those responses evolved into broader and more deliberate supply chain redesign strategies as businesses adapted to continued tariff pressure.
“What we’re seeing isn’t just a shift in sourcing or supplier mix. It’s a fundamental change in how trade is executed,” says Don Mabry, senior vice president, global trade solutions at Infios.
It found effective duty rates in some product categories increased between 20% and 80% due to tariff stacking, while freight mode selection increasingly reflected efforts to reduce supply chain risk rather than simply lower freight costs.
Air freight usage increased by around 12 percentage points and remained elevated, while ocean freight declined by approximately 10–12 percentage points without recovering. According to Infios, the figures suggest businesses are increasingly prioritising supply chain stability and responsiveness over lowest-cost freight models.
Truck freight usage also increased, reflecting continued nearshoring activity and demand for shorter, more stable supply chains. At the same time, bonded warehouse usage rose from approximately 10% of entries to as high as 18%, indicating growing use of duty deferral strategies as companies attempt to better manage cashflow and tariff exposure.
The research also points to growing complexity in tariff classification management. According to Infios, Harmonised Tariff Schedule (HTS) classification sequences nearly doubled, increasing from approximately six sequences per entry to 11.6, creating challenges for businesses still relying on manual compliance processes.
For manufacturers and distributors, the findings highlight how trade policy is increasingly influencing day-to-day operational decisions across warehousing, transport and inventory management.
The report suggests many businesses are now redesigning logistics networks to create greater flexibility around sourcing, storage and freight movement, particularly within sectors exposed to high tariff variability or complex international supply arrangements.
Despite ongoing tariff pressure, the report suggests global trade volumes are not retreating, but changing shape. Shipment values increased by approximately 78% while entry counts declined by around 7%, which Infios says reflects shipment consolidation and more selective freight movements rather than reduced trade activity.
The analysis also found sourcing changes varied significantly between sectors. Consumer goods and light manufacturing showed increasing diversification away from China, while specialty chemicals and industrial component supply chains remained heavily dependent on existing sourcing structures regardless of tariff exposure.
According to Infios, the findings indicate supply chain flexibility is becoming increasingly important as companies respond to ongoing policy uncertainty and shifting trade conditions.