# Global supply chain instability and risk > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-supply-chain-instability-and-risk > Updated: 2026-09-21T01:13:40.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Global supply chains are facing increasing instability driven by a combination of geopolitical disruptions, trade barriers, and climate-related shocks. Intelligence firm Expana has warned that businesses must prepare for both sudden “black swan” events and gradual “grey rhino” risks, noting that structural vulnerabilities are being exacerbated by Middle East crises and new tariff pressures. In the United States, industry leaders describe the current multifaceted crisis as potentially more challenging than the disruptions seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. This volatility is attributed to overlapping factors including rising energy prices, interrupted trade routes in the Red Sea, geopolitical tensions involving Iran, extreme weather, and high costs for transportation and fertilizer. To mitigate these systemic risks, experts suggest a shift from fragile “just-in-time” models toward structural redundancy and the integration of geopolitical intelligence into enterprise risk management. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-21: U.S. businesses face supply chain crisis driven by multiple global factors U.S. businesses face intense economic pressure from overlapping supply chain crises, including geopolitical tensions, high energy costs, and extreme weather, which some leaders find more difficult than COVID-19 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-businesses-face-supply-chain-crisis-driven-by-multiple-global-factors ### 2026-09-17: Geopolitical shocks and economic signals increase global supply chain risks Businesses face rising supply chain risks from geopolitical shocks and economic indicators. Experts urge a shift from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience and structural redundancy. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/geopolitical-shocks-and-economic-signals-increase-global-supply-chain-risks --- Cite as: Global supply chain instability and risk. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-supply-chain-instability-and-risk