Diversifying supply chains named as increasing priority by European businesses as geopolitical uncertainty continues
33% of businesses with a European presence have diversified their supply chain to reduce risk from current geopolitical events – concerns about global trade disruption have already led half of businesses to use more international suppliers over the last 12 months.
Unlocking access to global suppliers is critical to boost competitiveness and growth – 91% of businesses using more international suppliers say profits have significantly increased.
Cross-border payments company, Currenxie, has launched its business account solution in the European Economic Area (EEA) offering secure, fast and cost-effective payments for businesses looking to enter new markets and partner with international suppliers.
A third (33%) of businesses have diversified supply chains to mitigate risk from current geopolitical events. These findings come from the latest research from cross-border payments company Currenxie, which has today launched its business account solution in the European Economic Area (EEA) for businesses looking to enter new markets.
The disruption of global supply routes due to multiple conflicts including the ongoing Iran war is leading businesses to increasingly unlock access to customers and suppliers in new markets to reduce risk. Half (50%) of businesses now use more international suppliers than 12 months ago – 91% say this has significantly boosted profits.
Current geopolitical uncertainty continues to have a global impact on consumer prices and inflation. In Germany, consumer confidence has dropped to its lowest level in two years*, whilst Eurozone inflation rose to its highest level in 12 months in March 2026, according to Eurostat.
In the UK, the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) warned that consumer goods prices are likely to soar during 2026, with over a fifth (22%) of supply chain businesses reporting shipping costs have increased by more than 10%**.
Currenxie’s research shows that three in ten (31%) of businesses admit they have had to pass on increased costs to customers due to current global instability.
Sam Coyne, CEO - Europe at Currenxie, explains: "The disruption of global supply chains is piling pressure on European businesses by squeezing margins and driving costs – in order to remain competitive and drive growth, expanding into new markets to diversify suppliers and customers is critical.”
European businesses facing international payment delays risk curbing growth
Increased supply chain costs and continued economic uncertainty mean businesses must look to boost margins where possible to remain competitive. For businesses operating internationally, this includes sourcing suppliers from more cost-effective markets and growing its global customer base – to maximise profitability, reducing foreign exchange (FX) costs is key.
Seven in ten (71%) businesses say cost-effective international payment options are critical to enable their business to compete globally. Without access to cost-effective payments, a third (31%) are unable to meet demand from international customers and these challenges affect relationships with international suppliers or customers for 52% of businesses which impacts growth and profitability.
Businesses are typically reliant on their bank for critical high value transfers and cross-border payments, however this may not always be the best option, particularly for SMEs, with higher costs and slower processing times. Access to secure, fast and cost-effective cross-border payments and local market expertise is vital for businesses of all sizes, but especially SME retailers.
Sam Coyne continues: “Businesses operating globally face many payment challenges including high costs, slow delivery and poor transparency – all of which combine to curb growth. Without suitable payment options, SMEs may find themselves struggling to meet customer demand, facing unnecessarily high costs, and therefore falling short of growth targets.”
Currenxie, a fintech company founded in 2014, specialises in simplifying global payments for businesses. The company provides comprehensive solutions for SMEs when collecting, exchanging, and sending money worldwide. Currenxie offers SMEs savings of up to 61% on cross-border FX payments compared to competitors***.
Methodology
Research conducted by independent research agency Opinium which surveyed 200 senior decision makers in UK businesses that accept/send international payments between 20th – 27th April 2026.
* According to figures published by the GfK market research institute and the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions, March 2026.
** According to Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS): https://www.cips.org/about-us/news/procurement-professionals-sound-the-alarm
*** Based on analysis of cross-border fees charged by Currenxie and Wise on $1,000 transactions across several popular currency pairings as of 29th January 2026.
For further information, please contact:
Seven Consultancy – currenxie@seven-consultancy.com
About Currenxie
Currenxie makes global payments simple for businesses. It is a financial technology company founded in 2014 that provides everything needed to collect, exchange, and send money worldwide. Thousands of global businesses trust us to transfer billions of dollars worldwide every year while increasing profits and saving them time.
Currenxie also holds licenses and registrations across multiple other jurisdictions, including Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, South Africa, and the United States.
Currenxie has over 15,000 clients across 100 countries and was named as one of the most promising cross-border payment companies in 2024 by FXC Intelligence.
