Signal 82% of U.S. Manufacturers Reshoring; 25% of Global Trade to Relocate by 2026

Summary

The often-cited "82% of US manufacturers reshoring" figure traces to a 2023 survey of manufacturing executives by Forbes, Xometry and Zogby, in which 82% said they had moved factories back to the US or were in the process of doing so, up 55% from January 2023. The companion claim that 25% of global trade will relocate stems from STI/SPFA research projecting that share moving within three years amid economic and geopolitical instability. A more recent, March 2026 survey of 250 US manufacturing decision-makers (BigRep/Atomik Research) found 79% have already brought outsourced production in-house or are doing so, with only 8% not having considered it. However, just 34% describe their in-house capacity as fully adequate to absorb supply-chain disruptions. Cited barriers include capital cost of equipment (25%), time to implement new systems (22%), and shortage of skilled staff (22%). Analysts still note reshoring economics only work where automation and cost thresholds are met.