Procurement Anxiety Hits Two-Year High, CIPS Survey Finds
Summary
The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) survey finds procurement concern at its highest level in roughly two years. Rising input costs, fragile supplier networks and persistent global trade uncertainty are driving anxiety across procurement teams. Visibility improvements since the pandemic are helpful but no longer sufficient; procurement leaders are focused on cost control, supplier reliability and planning confidence as volatility returns.
Key Points
- Procurement concern has risen to a two-year high, driven by price increases and supply-chain risk.
- Shipping, logistics and raw-material costs are major pressure points, complicating long-term contracting and price predictability.
- Visibility into supply networks has improved, but it does not eliminate exposure to cost swings or supplier fragility.
- Short-term outlooks have weakened due to global trade headwinds, regional conflicts and route disruption risks.
- Procurement teams are responding by reassessing sourcing, diversifying suppliers, reviewing contract terms and working closer with logistics and planning teams.
- Dr John Glen (CIPS) warns that volatility itself is inflationary, forcing organisations to plan for worst-case scenarios.
Context and Relevance
This survey arrives as many organisations thought conditions were stabilising. Its findings underline that volatility is again a normal operating assumption for 2026, reshaping procurement strategy, risk management and budgeting. For anyone involved in sourcing, sourcing policy or supply-chain planning, the report signals a shift back to contingency-focused approaches and flexible supplier arrangements.
Author style
Punchy: This isn’t a gentle warning — procurement teams are seeing the early signs and acting. If your organisation buys globally, these shifts will affect contracts, cost forecasts and resilience plans.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: procurement people are worried again — prices and supplier risks are rising. Read this to understand what procurement teams are doing (diversify, renegotiate, coordinate) so you can check your own contracts and contingency plans before costs bite.