Ireland Logistics Outlook 2026: Aramex Integration, Tariffs and Global Trade Disruption

As Ireland takes on the Presidency of the Council of Europe, it is a good moment to reflect on the past six months and look ahead to the rest of the year.

As widely communicated, Hawthorn Logistics Solutions Ltd was acquired by the Aramex Group in February 2026. Over the past four months, we have been working closely with our new colleagues. We are getting to know each other, identifying where both organisations can add value, and exploring new opportunities together. You can learn more about our business on the About Us page.

We have met jointly with the majority of our clients, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We are moving quickly to integrate services and to make the best use of the strengths and experience within both organisations across a wide range of industries.

Aramex’s global CEO visited Ireland in June and committed to supporting a number of strategic plans that were presented during the visit. We see a very positive future for the Irish business as both companies move towards closer integration.

On the global front, the imposition of tariffs by the US administration created widespread shock and forced many companies to reassess their trading strategies. Some businesses accelerated exports ahead of the tariff measures, while others paused shipments or delayed decisions while waiting for greater clarity.

More recent legal developments in the United States have reduced some of that uncertainty, although confidence has not yet fully returned and many businesses remain cautious.

Conflict involving Iran has also caused significant disruption, not only through increased costs but also through uncertainty for companies trading globally. We are seeing projects placed on hold, investment decisions delayed, and a general reduction in business confidence across international markets.

Ongoing uncertainty has continued to affect both air and ocean freight, with fluctuating rates, service disruption and wider instability across supply chains. While the recent pause in hostilities is welcome, the market remains sensitive and businesses are still planning cautiously.

Against this background, Ireland continues to outperform many markets, with strong growth, resilience and a broadly positive economic outlook. Businesses looking for practical freight and supply chain support can explore our full range of logistics services across Ireland, Europe and international markets.

As we move into the second half of the year, we will continue to strengthen cooperation between Hawthorn Logistics and Aramex while building new opportunities for our customers and partners.

As always, we greatly appreciate the support of our customers and suppliers. We also value the contribution of our team and look forward with confidence to what the future will bring. If you would like to discuss your shipping, customs or wider logistics requirements, please get in touch with our team.