What UK businesses need to know in 2026

08 January 2026

By Cath Lee

If there is one message 2025 has delivered loud and clear, it is that global trade has entered a new era of volatility. The combination of tariff disputes, sanctions, geopolitical tension and shifting alliances has produced a trading environment where costs move quickly, schedules are less predictable, and supply chains require more active management than ever.

As a global freight forwarder, Allseas sits at the intersection where policy meets practicality. Our customers feel the effects of every tariff announcement, route diversion and port disruption as it cascades through the system. Below are the trends that defined 2025 and what UK businesses should be preparing for as we look toward 2026.

Tariff turbulence & freight rate volatility

Tariffs between major economies, from US–China to EU–Asia regimes, have acted like shockwaves across global supply chains. When duties rise, cargo flows realign, capacity shifts, and rates can change almost overnight.

We’ve seen:

• Sudden demand spikes on alternative Southeast Asian routes
• Empty repositioning and capacity shortages in unexpected regions
• Contracted rates disrupted by surcharges or emergency adjustments

For UK businesses, this has made freight budgeting harder and increased the importance of scenario planning.

Longer lead times

Political tensions, sanctions and regional risk have pushed carriers to diversify routes and avoid sensitive corridors. The result being longer transit times and reduced schedule reliability, particularly on Asia–Europe and Africa–Europe routes.

Instead of a pure “just-in-time” model, many customers are now building strategic inventory buffers and adjusting production cycles to factor in delay risk.

Rising costs driving consolidation among carriers

Fuel price volatility, overcapacity and inconsistent demand have placed financial strain on shipping lines. Consolidation and alliances have become essential to maintain fleet utilisation, but they also reduce competition on certain lanes.

For SMEs, this means fewer alternative options, and that’s where forwarders play an increasingly critical role. By working across multiple carriers and modes, we help businesses maintain flexibility even as direct choices shrink.

What UK businesses should do now

Across 2025, we’ve seen a clear pattern: the most resilient companies are those taking a proactive approach to trade risk. The old model of annual rate negotiations and static logistics plans simply doesn’t match today’s environment.

Businesses preparing for 2026 should focus on:

• Closer relationships with logistics partners to gain early insight into market shifts
• Longer-term contracts or forward rates to stabilise budgets
• Route and port diversification, including use of Freeports
• Investing in digital visibility and customs-management tools, or working with a partner who can supply these system

These are no longer best-practice recommendations but fundamental requirements for operating in a fragmented global trading system.

Looking Ahead

Global shipping has always mirrored the state of international trade, but in recent years it has also become a real-time indicator of political and economic instability. That won’t change in 2026. What can change is how businesses prepare.

At Allseas, our goal is to help customers turn uncertainty into insight and insight into action. Whether you’re reviewing sourcing strategies, navigating tariff risk or rethinking your logistics footprint, we’re here to guide you through the complexity.