Shipping Cost Surge Threatens Higher Consumer Prices, Warns CIPS

Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply warned soaring shipping costs could push up consumer prices in 2026.
The group said cracks are forming in global supply chains.
Computers, electrical machinery, and transport equipment face the biggest risks.
Procurement concerns hit a two-year high in a late-2025 CIPS survey.
Shipping and logistics saw the sharpest cost increases, with 22% reporting rises above 10%.
Computer prices already climbed, with Lenovo and Dell raising prices by about 15%.
The Freightos Baltic Index showed Asia–US west coast rates jumping nearly 30% in weeks.
CIPS said volatility now looks permanent, driven by geopolitics, tariffs, and rising trade tensions.