Rising costs and uncertainty continue to weigh on UK chemical supply chain

Mace | 4th August 2026 | Trade Associations

Industry leaders say the UK chemical supply chain has "enormous potential" but is suffering due to business costs, trade conditions and uncertainty.

UK chemical supply chain businesses are continuing to face high operating costs, challenging trade conditions and ongoing uncertainty, according to the Chemical Business Association’s (CBA) latest Quarterly Chemical Supply Chain Trends Survey.  The survey – which has provided valuable insight into the health of the sector for more than 14 years – is distributed to the Association’s extensive membership and gathers responses from manufacturers and distributors, transport and logistics companies, and service providers from across the UK’s chemical supply chain. The Q2 2026 findings paint a picture of a sector grappling with the cost and complexity of doing business in the UK. Rising operational costs, subdued demand, global disruption and continued uncertainty are combining to impact confidence, investment and growth across the chemical supply chain. 

"Logistics remains one of the most visible manifestations of these pressures."

Logistics remains one of the most visible manifestations ...

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