January’s market update focused on the macro forces reshaping supply chains as we entered 2026: geopolitical risk, capacity recalibration, and a clear pivot toward resilience over efficiency.
In February, the picture becomes sharper.
Recent third-party data continues to point toward structural change – but what’s most telling is how shippers themselves are responding. Last quarter, Source Logistics surveyed companies across manufacturing, retail, and high-growth CPG industries to understand how these macro pressures are translating into real operational decisions.
Prior to publishing the full report, below we share some initial results which indicate a market moving beyond theory and into execution.
Big Picture: Nearshoring Has Crossed Into Execution Mode
What the broader market is showing:
- Mexico continues to attract record foreign direct investment, with manufacturing representing the largest share of new capital.
- Industry research indicates ~40%+ of supply chain leaders plan to shift more footprint into the Americas to reduce tariff exposure (like new tariffs on certain auto imports) and transit risk.
- The “China-plus-one” model is giving way to regionalized supply chains built for speed and resilience.
- Recent cross-border cooperation agreements between Laredo, Texas and Jalisco, Mexico underscore the strategic importance of the U.S.-Mexico corridor – especially for high-value exports like agri-foods.
What survey respondents told us:
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Over one-third of respondents are actively planning, evaluating or executing new manufacturing facilities within the next 12-24 months.
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Key regions of interest:
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Northern Mexico: Monterrey, Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez
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Central Mexico: Queretaro, Guanajuato
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Respondents are moving faster than the broader market is indicating – shifting from strategy discussion to actual site selection and logistics execution.
Operational impact:
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Nearshoring decisions are now directly influencing cross-border transportation strategy with more diligent customs and compliance planning, improved U.S. warehouse network design, and positioning inventory closer to demand.
Technology & Visibility: From “Nice to Have” to Non-Negotiable
What the market data says:
- Only a small percentage of companies report end-to-end supply chain visibility, but nearly all report revenue impact from disruptions tied to poor visibility.
- Technology spend is shifting away from experimental tools toward practical, decision-enabling systems.
- The warehousing market is accelerating investment in smart platforms, transitioning from early pilots to strategic deployment – a trend driven by labor scarcity and demand for transparency.
What survey respondents told us:
Top operational pain points across all their suppliers:
- Inability to proactively detect and resolve issues
- Disconnected systems across transportation, warehousing, and inventory
- Reactive communication instead of early warnings
Top priorities when deciding on a provider:
- Integrated dashboards
- Real-time inventory visibility
- Proactive alerts tied to exceptions, not status updates
- Deeper supply chain technology and analytics are now table stakes, not differentiators.
- Shippers expect one source of truth, fewer blind handoffs, and faster decision cycles when disruptions occur
Operational impact:
- Deeper supply chain technology and analytics are now table stakes, not differentiators.
- Shippers expect one source of truth, fewer blind handoffs, and faster decision cycles when disruptions occur
Warehousing & Distribution: Omnichannel Growth Meets Labor Reality
What the market is showing:
- Ecommerce now drives the majority of 3PL activity.
- Return rates continue to rise, increasing operational complexity.
- Labor availability remains constrained across warehousing markets.
- Growing shipping costs and broader logistics inflation risks are now front-of-mind for procurement teams, reinforcing the need for flexible strategies this year.
What survey respondents told us:
Growth initiatives underway include:
- Launching new SKUs
- Expanding D2C channels
- Supporting both retail and D2C from shared inventory pools
Their top challenges are:
- Demand forecasting accuracy
- Managing promotional and seasonal surges
- Limited flexibility during peak volume periods
Operational impact:
- Warehousing strategies must support mixed fulfillment profiles (pallet + parcel), rapid reallocation of inventory, and scalable labor without permanent overhead
- Flexibility during surges is now a core evaluation criterion for logistics partners
Transportation: Reliability Over Optimization
What the market is showing:
- Capacity has stabilized, but reliability remains inconsistent.
- Disruptions are increasingly caused by execution gaps rather than rate volatility.
- Shippers are prioritizing fewer failures over marginal cost savings.
- Manufacturing activity in the U.S. expanded in January, hinting at ongoing freight demand that could strain network consistency if capacity doesn’t keep pace.
What survey respondents told us:
- Common friction points include:
- Carrier delays during promotions
- Inconsistent service levels across lanes
- Slow response when exceptions occur
- What they look for in providers:
- Faster escalation
- Clear accountability
- Fewer surprises
Operational impact:
- Transportation strategy is shifting toward fewer handoffs, tighter carrier performance management, and integrated visibility between transportation and warehousing teams
The Service Signal: Accountability is the Differentiator Again
What the industry data confirms:
- Service quality now outweighs price for many shippers
- Poor communication is a leading cause of failed 3PL partnerships
- What survey respondents told us:
- Proactive communication wins over reactive troubleshooting
- “First-time-right” execution is imperative
- There needs to be clear ownership when things go wrong
Operational impact:
- Technology alone is not enough. Shippers are actively re-prioritizing responsiveness, process discipline, and human accountability behind the data.
What We’re Watching as 2026 Continues
Based on February’s signals, three themes will define the months ahead:
- Nearshoring execution will accelerate, increasing pressure on cross-border logistics and U.S. distribution networks.
- Visibility expectations will continue rising, shrinking tolerance for disconnected systems.
- Service quality will separate long-term partners from transactional providers.
These forces are not cyclical – they are structural.
Turn Insight Into Advantage in 2026
February’s data makes one thing clear: the market has moved past planning and into execution.
Shippers are making real commitments – to new manufacturing footprints, tighter inventory control, and higher service expectations – and they’re looking for logistics partners who can execute reliably across borders, channels, and demand cycles.
At Source Logistics, we’re building our roadmap around what customers and shippers are experiencing on the ground: tighter margins, higher expectations, and zero tolerance for surprises. Our focus is helping brands turn volatility into control – and logistics into a competitive advantage.
If you’re evaluating how these trends impact your network, inventory strategy, or growth plans for 2026, we’d welcome the conversation.
Connect with the Source Logistics team.