Global Supply Chain Volatility Index
April 2026
Global: 0.57
Asia: 1.16 +0.76
EU: 0.64 +0.59
NA: 0.42 +0.68
UK: 0.16 +0.17
Middle East War Drives Global Supply Chain Pressures to a Three-Year High: GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index
- Supply shocks drive manufacturers’ stockpiling, push shortages to a three-year high and transport costs to a four-year peak
- Asia reports weaker demand and soaring transport costs
- Cost pressures build in North America as demand remains soft
- European manufacturers safety-stockpile the most aggressively more...
GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index
+0.48
April 2026
Asia: 1.16
EU: 0.64
NA: 0.42
UK: 0.16
Interpreting the data:
When the SCVI > 0, supply chain capacity is being stretched. The further above 0, the more stretched supply chains are.
When the SCVI < 0, supply chain capacity is being underutilized. The further below 0, the more underutilized supply chains are.
Asia: Pressures surge on weaker demand and soaring transport costs
Europe: Labor shortages and stockpiling build
U.K.: Early supply bottlenecks emerge despite subdued demand
North America: Cost pressures rise as manufacturers remain cautious on demand
The next release of the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index will be 8 a.m. ET, May 12, 2026.
About the GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index
The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is produced by S&P Global and GEP. The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is derived from S&P Global’s PMI™ surveys, sent to companies in over 40 countries, totalling around 27,000 companies. These countries account for 89% of global gross domestic product (GDP) (source: World Bank World Development Indicators).
The headline figure is the GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index. This a weighted sum of six sub-indices derived from PMI data, PMI Comments Trackers and PMI Commodity Price & Supply Indicators complied by S&P Global.
The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index is calculated using a weighted sum of the z-scores of the six indices. Weights are determined by analysing the impact each component has on suppliers’ delivery times through regression analysis.
The six variables used are 1) JP Morgan Global Quantity of Purchases Index, 2) All Items Supply Shortages Indicator, 3) Transport Price Pressure Indicator and Manufacturing PMI Comments Tracker data for 4) stockpiling due to supply or price concerns, and backlogs rising due to 5) staff shortages and 6) item shortages.
A value above 0 indicates that supply chain capacity is being stretched and supply-chain volatility is increasing. The further above 0, the greater the extent to which capacity is being stretched.
A value below 0 indicates that supply chain capacity is being underutilized, reducing supply-chain volatility. The further below 0, the greater the extent to which capacity is being underutilized.
A Supply Chain Volatility Index is also published at a regional level for Europe, Asia, North America and the UK. The regional indices measure the performance of supply-chains connected to those parts of the world.
For more information on PMI surveys, PMI Comments Trackers and PMI Commodity Price & Supply Indicators, the GEP Supply Chain Volatility Index methodologies, please contact economics@ihsmarkit.com.