2026 opens with steadier markets, but direct spend categories face renewed pressure. Procurement teams must manage energy costs, shifting trade routes, and sustainability mandates that add layers of sourcing complexity.
Chemicals, metals, and packaging are at the center of a global “great decoupling,” marked by a projected 30% drop in U.S. chemical imports from China driven by tariff escalation. Metal supply remains constrained amid a surge in global demand, while shifting trade rules and regional alliances affect how quickly materials move through the system and which routes remain reliable.
This podcast, based on the GEP Spend Category Outlook 2026, examines the forces reshaping direct spend and how procurement can regain control in a fragmented global market.
What’s Inside:
- Trends shaping key direct spend categories
- Impact of protectionist trade policies
- Strategies to reinforce category resilience
Listen now to sharpen your direct spend strategy for 2026.