WILMINGTON, DE — Nearly half of business professionals surveyed across 90 countries expect economic growth in 2026 despite escalating trade tensions and Middle East conflict, reflecting a shift by companies toward supply-chain diversification, regionalization, and operational resilience strategies.
Consultancy Gedeth Network released a report last week based on responses from more than 50,000 professionals gathered during the first quarter of 2026 in collaboration with DHL Express and Universidade Europeia.
The study examined business sentiment before and after the Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict alongside the impact of tariffs, geopolitical instability, hiring expectations, and trade strategy adjustments.
The report found 48.7% of respondents still expect business growth next year, although optimism declined from 59.3% before the conflict to 45% afterward.
Only 6.8% of participants forecast business contraction, while uncertainty rose to 24.2%.
Small and midsize businesses were the most optimistic respondents, with 55% projecting growth as companies with smaller operational footprints move more quickly to diversify suppliers and enter new markets.
The findings suggest businesses are increasingly adapting to geopolitical fragmentation rather than retreating from international markets altogether.
“From tariffs to wars, businesses aren’t retreating—they’re rewriting playbooks with pragmatic optimism,” Gedeth Network Chief Executive Officer Juan Millán said in a statement.
The Americas recorded the strongest regional growth expectations at 60%, led by sentiment in Venezuela and the United States, according to the report.
At the same time, the survey indicated growing concerns about U.S. policy volatility among international businesses evaluating market expansion plans.
Respondents identified artificial intelligence and digitalization as the largest opportunity area, followed by expansion into new markets and innovation initiatives.
The most commonly cited risks were geopolitical instability and tariffs.
The report also found companies increasingly moving beyond “China+1” manufacturing strategies toward broader multi-country diversification models aimed at reducing geopolitical and supply-chain exposure.
More information about the study is available at www.gedeth.com.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.