NEWS Globalization: Resilience or retreat?

The 2026 DHL Global Connectedness Report, published with NYU Stern, finds that while the risks are real, deglobalization is not today’s reality. Global flows of trade, capital, information, and people are evolving but remain in line with historic highs.

Together with New York University’s Stern School of Business, DHL has released the latest edition of the DHL Global Connectedness Report. The 2026 Report shows that while deglobalization dominates headlines, the real story of global connectedness is one of resilience and evolving global ties.

The report addresses three core questions shaping today’s globalization debate: Are global flows still growing? Is geopolitical rivalry fracturing the world economy? Are international flows becoming more regional?

While political rhetoric and policy shifts fuel concern, the evidence points to widespread resilience. Companies are adapting supply chains, de-risking without disengaging, and leveraging technology to sustain international exchange.

Amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, leaders across the public and private sectors must now routinely account for volatility in their daily decisions. Data can provide the clarity needed to avoid misleading assumptions.

Since 2011, the DHL Global Connectedness Report has tracked the state and trajectory of globalization using hard data. To provide a solid research foundation, DHL partnered with New York University’s Stern School of Business to form the DHL Initiative on Globalization at NYU Stern, where a team of scholars conducts the research and analysis. Each edition of the DHL Global Connectedness Report builds on the previous report and the scholars’ decades of globalization research.

As a leading logistics company, DHL is uniquely positioned to provide orientation and contribute to the globalization debate. The report is a go-to resource for business leaders and policymakers seeking more informed discussions.

Globalization is not disappearing – it is reshaping. The 2026 DHL Global Connectedness Report separates headlines from hard evidence, offering leaders the clarity they need to navigate uncertainty. Follow the link below to explore the key findings, download the full report, and dive deeper into country-level data.