Raw Materials Study 2026: Consumer Deep Dive

Raw material risk is becoming structural. Has consumer sourcing caught up?

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Consumer companies are changing how they source – but not necessarily what they optimize for. 84% expect raw material prices to rise over the next 12 months and 90% report an impact from geopolitical developments. Almost every company has adjusted its sourcing strategy, yet 68% still prioritize price over supply resilience.The Consumer Deep Dive of Inverto’s Raw Materials Study 2026 examines what this means for the 121 consumer respondents, 83% of them from Food & Beverage, alongside Consumer Electronics and Durables.. It reveals where exposure is concentrated, the price outlook by raw material group, the measures companies apply, and AI maturity. The result is a sector-level view of where raw materials management in consumer stands today.

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Key Findings

Most consumer companies expect raw material prices to keep rising. The expected increases over the next 12 months concentrate in agricultural and bio-based inputs, led by agricultural products, paper/wood/cellulose, and oils and fats.
Exposure remains high despite a largely European sourcing footprint. Most consumer companies source the majority of their raw materials within Europe, and 90% report an impact from geopolitical developments. Energy markets are expected to influence supply over the coming year.
Sourcing behavior is changing faster than sourcing priorities. Almost every consumer company adjusted at least one sourcing lever in the past 12 months, and 68% still prioritize price over supply resilience.
AI use is shifting toward risk management. 7% of consumer companies run AI end-to-end. Reduced supply disruption is the benefit they report most often, and planned use is moving toward supplier risk, negotiation, and ESG.

Looking for the broader perspective? Explore the overall Raw Materials Study 2026 for cross-industry findings and regional deep dives.

Where should consumer leaders priorities now?

The deep dive sets out five recommendations for strengthening raw material strategy – spanning contracting, resilience targets, sourcing design, AI capability, and traceability. It also compares the consumer industry with industrial goods across raw material basket, exposure and digitization.

The full findings and recommendations are available in the complete presentation.