By Charlotte Goldstone 7 August 2026UK businesses are facing mounting pressure from renewed tension around the Iran conflict, with rising transport, sourcing, and energy costs threatening to squeeze margins and further disrupt already fragile supply chains. More than half (52%) of businesses expected the cost of sourcing materials to be affected, while 47% anticipated an impact on transport costs. The renewed geopolitical uncertainty comes on top of already challenging operating conditions for the freight sector, Mr Parker highlighting rising business costs, energy expenses, and pressure on transport operators. For smaller freight forwarders in particular, he added, the ability to absorb unexpected costs and disruption was limited. But a lot of our members, even if they’re small… could find themselves caught up with additional costs.”