A new report says that the supply chains in North America aren't likely to return to pre-pandemic stability in 2024. 

According to findings released April 9 by the Association for Supply Chain Management and KPMG, recent factors like border patrol closures between U.S. and Mexico trade corridors, and attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have slowed the post-pandemic recovery process. 

"Geopolitical factors have posed risks to the logistics sector, leading to disruptions in distribution, transportation and capacity," KPMG principal Brian Higgins said. 

Even so, the report highlights "positive signs" over the last year as well, including how nearshoring efforts in Mexico and Canada have reduced the United States' reliance on other regions. 

The report also stresses that, in order to continue that move toward a more stable supply chain, it's important to continue to focus on other areas such as inventory optimization and the growing adoption of automation. In terms of the former, the report detailed how companies were able to carry less inventory to meet demand in 2023, after the pandemic led to surpluses across most major industries. For the latter, it laid out the need to balance the efficiency of automation with concerns over job displacement. 

"As supply chains navigate the ever-evolving path to stability in 2024, maintaining vigilance and adopting resilient strategies will be crucial for continued progress," the report concludes.