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20th Kühne Foundation Logistics Day at Kühne Logistics University
Leading through uncertainty is the central challenge for companies in 2026. When tariffs make supply chains more expensive overnight, geopolitical conflicts create resource shortages, and artificial intelligence accelerates decision-making, traditional management is no longer sufficient. Leaders must balance competing priorities: long-term stability versus short-term returns. And they must take accountability for decisions whose consequences they cannot fully control. This was a key message at the 20th Logistics Day of the Kühne Foundation on 17 April 2026 at Kühne Logistics University (KLU) in Hamburg. More than 200 professionals and executives discussed under the theme "From Disruption to Direction: Leading the Future of Logistics and Supply Chain Management" how companies can navigate uncertainty – and what new leadership competencies are required.
Logistics as a Pioneer in Managing Uncertainty
"Disruption is no longer the exception, but the norm. Companies need orientation, judgment, and leadership" said Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplan, President of KLU, in his opening remarks. "Logistics has always been good at managing trade-offs: speed versus sustainability, resilience versus efficiency, automation versus human judgment. If anyone is excellently positioned to lead through uncertainty, it is the logistics community."
Globalization at a Turning Point
Prof. John Manners-Bell, founder of the Foundation for Future Supply Chains, London, and CEO of Ti Insight, outlined a paradigm shift in his keynote: "Global supply chains have lifted millions out of poverty and driven economic growth. But the model has come under pressure. Supply chains are increasingly being weaponized." World trade has fundamentally changed over the past decade through protectionism, trade conflicts, and geopolitical tensions. "Globally integrated supply chains used to be considered the best model. Today they are just one of many options – alongside re-industrialization, nearshoring, or circularity," said Manners-Bell. The new models are more resilient, but more complex and costly.
The numbers speak for themselves: Chinese exports to the USA fell by 29.7 percent in 2025 due to tariffs, while exports from Southeast Asia (ASEAN) rose by 28.9 percent. "This is not a reduction in global trade, but redistribution – companies are actively rebuilding their supply chains," said Manners-Bell.
Case Study Nike: $1 Billion in Additional Costs
Manners-Bell provided a concrete example with the world's largest sporting goods manufacturer Nike: Tariffs on Chinese exports caused the company approximately one billion dollars in additional costs. Nike's share of production in China has been declining significantly for years, while production is being relocated to Vietnam (50 percent of footwear), Indonesia, and the Philippines. " Nike has launched a five-year supply chain transformation – and faces the choice: raise prices, relocate production to other parts of Asia, the USA (reshoring) or to Mexico in the sense of nearshoring, or reduce margins," said Manners-Bell. Referring to the WTO, he warned: "When companies don't know what tariffs will apply tomorrow, they invest less. This harms trade – and consumers."
Regarding the Iran conflict, Manners-Bell emphasized the complexity: "Many consequences will only be felt in two to six months – from reduced harvests in Africa due to missing fertilizer to shortages in the chip industry due to missing helium exports."
Leadership Redefined: Accountability for Invisible Structures
Dr. Niklas Wilmking, Executive Director of the Kühne Foundation and former Chief Logistics Officer at DB Schenker, summarized: "It's no longer primarily about moving goods efficiently, but about translating strategic intent into impact under uncertainty. The best leaders will be those who take accountability for invisible structures and uncomfortable trade-offs." Regarding AI, he said: "The bottleneck in the future will no longer be computing power, but leadership in terms of prioritization and accountability."
The Kühne Foundation Logistics Day is organized and managed by KLU and took place in 2026 on the Campus Hamburg in collaboration with HELP Logistics and the Kuehne Climate Center (KCC). More than 200 participants discussed in specialized sessions at the Kühne Foundation Logistics Day topics including AI in supply chain planning, carbon dioxide removal technologies, humanitarian logistics, and the role of electric trucks in Africa. A central theme: How can companies reconcile resilience and sustainability – without costs exploding?
www.klu.org
Pressekontakt:
Caroline Kieke
Head of Communications
Mobil: +49 170 95 76 166
Mail: press@klu.org
https://www.klu.org/kuehne-foundations-logistics-day-2026 Program
Keynote Prof. Manners-Bell
Welcome Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplan
https://theklu.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/MediaStorage/IgDfE-2gt1uXTJMbMUBd4zkyAfQcuSd... Photos for download (Copyright: KLU/Jan Konitzki, Link available until 20.5.2026)
Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplan, President of KLU
Copyright: KLU/Jan Konitzki
Prof. John Manners-Bell, Foundation for Future Supply Chains
Copyright: KLU/Jan Konitzki
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Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplan, President of KLU
Copyright: KLU/Jan Konitzki
Prof. John Manners-Bell, Foundation for Future Supply Chains
Copyright: KLU/Jan Konitzki
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