From just-in-time to just-in-case
Global supply chains are re-anchoring closer to home. The share of Canadian manufacturers sourcing domestically has risen from 36% in 2018 to 52% in 2025 (CME). Yet resilience comes at a cost: inventory ratios are up, and logistics capacity remains tight.
| Metric | 2018 | 2025 | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic sourcing share | 36 % | 52 % | +16 pts | CME |
| Avg. inventory-to-sales ratio | 1.34 | 1.62 | +21 % | StatsCan |
| Logistics cost as % of sales | 8.1 % | 9.4 % | +1.3 pts | CITT 2025 |
The new priorities
- Regional diversification replaces global efficiency.
- Data visibility across the supply web is now a board-level risk.
- ESG traceability adds new compliance complexity.
What leaders can do
- Digitize the supply chain. Real-time data trumps static dashboards.
- Scenario-plan logistics dependencies. Model energy, climate, and labour shocks.
- Invest in dual sourcing and near-shoring. Trade resilience for margin insurance.
- Collaborate on infrastructure advocacy. Private-public logistics corridors are the new competitiveness platforms.
Arcus Insight: The supply chain is now a resilience chain. Efficiency without redundancy is fragility in disguise.