Agentic AI Key to Manufacturing Supply Chain in 2026

Supply chain complexity can be managed by digital tools, according to the 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook from Deloitte. 

The shifting trade and tariffs landscape has resulted in uncertainty and increased costs for US manufacturers in 2025, and companies have responded with a variety of strategies, from front-loading inventory to reevaluating the structure of their supply chains. 

Despite these efforts, 78% of manufacturers responding to the National Association of Manufacturers’ 2025 third-quarter manufacturers outlook survey reported that trade uncertainty remains their top concern, and they expect input costs to increase by an average of 5.4% over the next year.

However, the future could bring greater trade certainty. The United States has brokered tariff agreements with the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, and the European Union, and additional deals could follow. 

The renegotiation of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement has also kicked off, which could potentially establish stable tariff rates for two of US manufacturing’s largest import partners.

Nevertheless, sourcing challenges are likely to persist amid ongoing supply chain volatility and as negotiations continue to play out. To mitigate these potential challenges, manufacturers can continue to invest in digital technologies.

A majority of 285 global trade professionals surveyed by the Thomson Reuters Institute in March 2025 indicated that their companies are already using technology to evaluate trade routes, identify risk, find potential cost savings, and perform scenario modeling.

Agentic AI offers a new level of capability, providing enhanced visibility and agility by autonomously sensing and mitigating supply chain risk while optimizing costs. For instance, AI agents can:  

• Monitor potential sources of disruption and risk due to trade policies, tariffs, or weather events, with visibility into Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers (and beyond)
• Alert appropriate personnel when an issue is detected
• Quantify the potential financial and operational impacts, including the “should-cost” value of affected materials and estimated shipment delays
• Recommend alternative suppliers that balance risk and cost
• Initiate mitigation steps, including contract negotiations, with human approval