Building Resilience in PVF Distribution in 2026: What We’ve Learned and What’s Ahead
By the MSI Leadership Team
“Tariffs may have started the shake-up, but now the real question is how we build something stronger going forward.”
Over the past year and a half, this industry has had to react to just about everything — new tariffs, shipping delays, changing price files, and product classifications that seem to shift overnight. If you’ve felt like it’s been one thing after another, you’re not alone.
At MSI, we’ve had a front-row seat to all of it. We’ve been adjusting right alongside our customers, helping teams work through last-minute changes, last-minute charges, and constantly shifting timelines. But this time around, we’re shifting focus. Instead of just reacting, we’re now asking a different question: How do we build a stronger, more resilient supply chain from here?
What the Past 18 Months Have Taught Us
There’s been no shortage of lessons, but here are the big ones:
- Timing is everything. The government is now enforcing tariffs based on when the product lands in the U.S., not when it ships. That change caught a lot of people off guard.
- Downstream products are no longer safe. Pipe fittings were added to the Section 232 list last summer under HTS code 7307. That was a wake-up call for anyone assuming finished goods wouldn’t get pulled in.
- Sourcing from a single region is risky. Companies that relied heavily on China felt the most pain. Between tariffs and shipping backlogs, everything got slower and more expensive.
- Policy changes happen fast. The copper tariff, the expansion of steel and aluminum derivatives, and the removal of certain trade exclusions — none of those came with much warning.
If you didn’t know where your inventory was or what it was classified under, you were already behind.
Resilience Isn’t Just About Inventory
When we talk about resilience, we don’t just mean purchasing more inventory and stocking it on your shelves. That’s part of it, but it’s not the full story.
True resilience is about being able to adjust quickly. It’s about having options — whether that’s more than one supplier, more than one shipping route, or more than one way to quote and fulfill an order. It’s also about having better information, faster, so you’re not reacting after the fact.
It’s about flexibility, visibility, and being able to move when the market moves.
Here’s What We’re Doing at MSI
We’ve made some important changes behind the scenes to stay ahead of the next round of challenges:
- We’ve mapped out which of our SKUs are most exposed to tariffs, freight issues, or classification risks.
- We’ve completed our expanded sourcing to be wholly outside of China and rebalanced buying across different regions.
- We’ve set minimum stock levels on high-demand items so we’re not caught short when lead times stretch.
- We’re keeping our sales team and reps looped in on every price change, HTS update, and sourcing shift so customers aren’t surprised.
- We’ve upgraded our tracking tools so we know what’s moving and when, which helps us give customers clearer updates.
- And we’re building out more EDI connections with key accounts to automate things like POs, invoices, and shipping notices. This helps cut down on delays, improves accuracy, and gives everyone faster visibility into what’s happening.
What We Recommend You Do Now
If you’re in procurement, sales, or managing supply for your team, here’s what we suggest:
- Take a look at your top-moving SKUs and figure out which ones are at risk.
- Talk to your MSI rep so we can flag any new classifications or cost changes you may not be aware of.
- If you rely on fittings or assemblies with copper, consider how the new tariffs could affect your pricing or delivery timelines.
- Stock up on anything you know will be tough to replace quickly — especially high-turn or project-critical items.
- Review your quoting process and make sure it accounts for landed cost changes, freight volatility, and availability.
- And if you’re not already using EDI with us, let’s talk. That might be the easiest win on this list.
Looking Ahead
No one knows exactly what’s coming in 2026. More tariff changes? Probably. More product reclassifications? Likely. Another scramble to revise price files and shipping plans? Almost guaranteed.
What we do know is that being prepared beats being surprised. And that’s the mindset we’re carrying into this next year.
We’re not here to scare anyone. We’re here to help you plan better, quote smarter, and avoid getting caught flat-footed. That’s what partnership looks like, and that’s what we’re focused on.
Let us know how we can support you.