"The year tested every assumption. Supply chains that survived are stronger for it."
Good Morning, Good Evening, and Good Night — wherever you're reading this. Welcome to the final Daiiv Journal of 2025.
When I wrote the first Daiiv Journal in August 2023, I was a new freight broker trying to make sense of a chaotic market. Two years later, I'm at NYU Stern studying Business Analytics & AI and Supply Chain Management — and these journals have been one of the most valuable investments I've made in my own education.
The conversations these journals sparked — the messages, the debates, the connections — have taught me as much as the research that went into writing them. Thank you. Truly. This one's a reflection of everything we've covered, and a look at what's ahead.
January kicked off with the most aggressive trade policy in modern U.S. history. 60% tariffs on China, 25% on Canada and Mexico, 10-20% on everyone else. Supply chain teams scrambled to model exposure. The companies that had already diversified their supply bases absorbed the impact. Those that hadn't paid tuition in the school of hard knocks.
April's semiconductor deep-dive revealed just how geopolitically exposed global chip supply chains remain — Taiwan producing 60%+ of advanced chips, with U.S. alternatives still years from full capacity. The Panama Canal's drought-driven slowdown added supply chain stress, while the Houston Ship Channel's record 250 ships in a week showed domestic energy infrastructure stepping up. Demand planning technology reached a new maturity level — AI-driven forecasting cutting errors by 30-50% became industry standard, not exception.
The summer months brought the AI supply chain story to its next chapter: from tool to operating system. Agentic AI — systems that take autonomous action across supply chain workflows — moved from concept to early deployment. Bonded warehousing became a strategic financial instrument as companies used customs deferral to manage tariff exposure dynamically. Cybersecurity moved up the priority list as supply chain digital infrastructure became a top ransomware target.
October's sustainability issue reflected a broader shift: circular economy principles are now board-level imperatives, not CSR footnotes. The holiday season tested every supply chain decision made earlier in the year. Companies that had positioned inventory strategically, committed carrier capacity early, and invested in last-mile technology performed exceptionally. Those that waited on clarity that never came paid the premium.
Three forces will define 2026: (1) Agentic AI moving from early adoption to operational standard — the gap between AI-enabled and AI-naive supply chains will widen dramatically. (2) The reshoring investment made in 2023-2025 starting to pay off — new domestic manufacturing capacity coming online. (3) Trade policy evolution — whether tariff structures stabilize or escalate into broader trade conflict will determine global supply chain architecture for the decade.
My personal positioning heading into 2026: continuing to build exposure to AI infrastructure (semiconductors, data center REITs, software platforms), domestic manufacturing enablers (automation, industrial equipment), and logistics technology. The reshoring megatrend has years to run — the companies building picks-and-shovels for domestic manufacturing will compound nicely.
From freight broker in Chicago writing about PMI and diesel prices, to NYU Stern studying the systems that move the world — this journal has been my most consistent learning tool. Every month of research made me a better analyst, writer, and supply chain professional. I hope it's done the same for you.
"The supply chain story of our time is the story of how complexity, technology, and human ingenuity work together — or fail to. I'm grateful to have documented it with you, month by month."
— Daivik Suresh, December 2025-DAIVIK SURESH-
Supply Chain + Business Analytics Enthusiast · December 2025Not financial advice. All opinions are personal. Investing involves risk including potential loss of principal.