News / Adaptation 'essential to winning' in a tariff-optimised supply chain world

Photo: © Cammeraydave | Dreamstime.com

Shippers are adapting to create “tariff-optimised” supply chains, with some tactics set to cement.  

A recent report by supply chain software company Infios highlighted two waves of post-tariff response. 

While wave one, from May-June 2025, was characterised by “pure reaction”, companies rushing to move volumes through whatever corridors looked most advantageous; the second wave, spanning July–December 2025 into 2026, has seen “structural adaptation”.  

“Once the initial shock passed, a different picture emerged. Companies stopped reacting and started rebuilding. The changes that came out of this wave are the ones with real long-term significance,” said Infios.  

“China’s loss of origin share didn’t reverse. Down 2.8 percentage points across the full period, this was a structural shift, not a temporary detour like the early USMCA surge,” the report added. 

Indeed, Nigel Pusey, CEO of Container Trades Statistics, told The Loadstar Podcast that North America was the only region to record an import decline in Q1 26, down 3.8% compared with Q1 25. 

“The loss from China has now been completely offset by South-east Asia, which is virtually compensating for that in terms of North American import volumes,” said Mr Pusey.  

“I think this has been cemented-in for the short to medium term. Not much is going to change because they’ve got a solid supply, it’s not being affected by tariffs. Why keep changing just because the tariff and a geopolitical trade discussion changes? You’ve got a solution, and if it works, don’t break it,” he explained.  

“They are not cemented in stone for ever, but this one is here for the medium term, in my view.” 

But according to the report, aside from sourcing decisions, one of the biggest responses to the tariff shock was about where companies stored goods once they arrived. 

“Bonded warehouses went from a niche tool used by a handful of industries to a mainstream strategy almost overnight. Warehouse and withdrawal entries jumped from around 10% of observed entries in 2024 to 16% right after tariffs hit. And the growth actually accelerated in the second half of the period, which tells us this wasn’t reactive. Companies were getting smarter about it.“

Infios explained that bonded warehousing offered a “critical pressure release valve” that deferred duty payment, protected against mid-course policy changes, and offered selective withdrawal strategies. 

“Unlike wave one behaviours that peaked and faded, this shift reflected a sustained operational redesign rather than a temporary response.” 

The report flagged certain capabilities as “essential to winning in the tariff-optimised world”. 

These include: tariff modelling and scenario planning across different lanes; intelligent classification and origin management; the ability to pivot between ocean, truck, and air, based on tariff exposure, lead time and risk; warehouse entry and withdrawal optimisation; and automated compliance orchestration. 

“These aren’t nice-to-haves; they’re the foundation of competitive supply chain execution for the next decade,” urged Infios.