If we are honest, 2025 did not give independent forwarders much breathing room. Tariffs were swung around like political poker chips, global conflicts kept rerouting vessels halfway around the planet, and every week felt like a fresh round of “Guess That Surcharge”.

But here is the thing I have always admired about SMEs in our industry: we do not have the luxury of excuses. We adapt or we disappear. And this year, you adapted again.

What Defined 2025 for SMEs

Uncertainty everywhere. Tariffs changed plans overnight. Conflicts turned supply chains into maze puzzles. And yet, SME forwarders kept cargo moving while bigger players were still writing press releases about resilience.

Carriers kept pushing for direct customer relationships. We all saw it. What used to be taboo is now openly part of their strategy. But here is the twist: despite the size and the money, most shippers still want the service, speed and honesty only independents provide.

AI crept into the back office. Not the Hollywood kind, the practical kind. The stuff that actually helps: faster quoting, cleaner documentation, fewer mistakes. But 2025 also reminded us that no software replaces relationships, problem solving or accountability. Clients do not call an algorithm when their container goes missing in Jebel Ali.

Looking at 2026: More Turbulence, More Opportunity

Let us skip the sugar coating. 2026 will not magically calm down. Tariffs will still be used as bargaining chips. Conflicts will not vanish. Carrier strategy will not reverse. And customers will expect even more transparency, speed and control.

But here is the upside, and it is a big one: SME forwarders thrive in chaos. We are faster, hungrier and more accountable than any multinational or carrier backed forwarding arm.

2026 will reward the forwarders who:

• Communicate clearly
• Adopt AI selectively
• Invest in their people
• Build real client relationships
• Stay Flexible

My Personal Takeaway This Year

I have spoken with hundreds of you across the X2 community, in person, at events and on calls, and the pattern is clear: independent forwarders are still the backbone of global logistics. Not the press release champions. Not the companies with stadium sized booths at trade shows.

It is YOU. You are the ones your clients call when things go wrong. You are the ones finding solutions late at night. You are the ones turning uncertainty into opportunity.

So here is to 2026!

Not a year of calm, but a year of control. Not a year of perfect stability, but a year where independents can outperform the giants by doing what giants cannot.

We will continue building X2 as the global home for forwarders who want to stay sharp, stay connected and stay competitive, no matter what the world throws at us next.

See you all in 2026.

Let us get to work.