Three in four business leaders say geopolitical, economic uncertainties to dampen growth: report

They are wary of global tensions, energy pressures, and inflation, amongst others.

Seventy-five percent of Singapore business leaders cited geopolitical and economic uncertainties as roadblocks to growth, a Beazley survey showed.

Executives are also wary of trade tensions, energy pressures, and inflation, Beazley’s 2025 Geopolitical and Economic Risk & Resilience report said.

Thirty percent note inflationary pressures as top risk in 2025, up from 25% in 2024, whilst 26% see economic uncertainty as the biggest threat this year, up from 20% in 2024.

In response to headwinds, 38% of Singapore-based companies plan to reassess the security of their overseas operations this year, up from 25% last year, the specialty insurer said.

Thirty-two percent of Singapore-based firms also plan to explore insurance that includes risk and crisis management, up from 20% in 2024, it added.

Supply chain disruption is no longer a future threat, as 90% plan to adjust suppliers or reroute operations due to geopolitical tension, up from 84% in January 2025.

Firms are investing in artificial intelligence (AI), fusion energy, and lunar exploration, whilst 37% of firms are boosting investment in risk management and loss prevention measures, an increase from 21% in January 2024 to safeguard their innovations.

Singapore-based leaders are also using insurance to expand into new markets despite political or regulatory hurdles, secure critical energy resources, and as protection from cyber threats or geopolitical disruptions.

For the study, Beazley and research firm Opinion Matters surveyed over 3,500 business leaders and insurance buyers from international companies based in the UK, US, Canada, Singapore, France, Germany, and Spain, with annual revenue from EUR250,000 ($377,100) to EUR1b ($1.508b).

EUR1 =$1.51 as of 24 October 2025 (data from Refinitv via Google)