Executives are prioritizing investments in warehousing and logistics hubs with port infrastructure investment ramping up to USD278 billion globally by 2032, according to the Global Trade Observatory (GTO) Annual Outlook Report.
Unveiled by DP World at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, 2026, the annual GTO survey results provides practical insights from more than 3,500 senior supply chain and logistics executives globally as to how organizations are responding to today’s trade environment. It showed that infrastructure capital spending has been heightened as foreign direct investments in logistics fell by around 30 percent since 2003 when capital flows increasingly favored advanced manufacturing.
Based on the survey, 39 percent of executives prioritize logistics hubs, 36 percent on road networks, and an equal share of 36 percent prioritize border and customs processing infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, investment in global port infrastructure market is forecast to grow from USD164 billion in 2023 to USD278 billion by 2032, but Africa alone faces an annual infrastructure investment gap of USD68-108 billion.
Approximately 80 percent of all global goods and commodities trade passes through 17,000 ports worldwide, the report said. Estimates also pointed out that a 10 percent improvement in port efficiency can reduce trade costs by up to 3 percent. Ports also have a multiplier effect on employment and business opportunities, as they connect inland markets to regional and international markets and serve as hubs for manufacturing and value-added services.
In addition, a research by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) suggests that a 10 percent improvement in automating border procedures could boost exports by up to 18 percent by simplifying processes for firms and investing in institutional capability at the country level.
