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Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

ISIC 5229 April 2024 Spotlight Report

Revenue

€358.6bn

2019-2024 4.9 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

1m

2019-2024 0.1 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Businesses

148k

2019-2024 0.2 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Profit

€X.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %

Profit Margin

X.X%

2019-2024 X.X pp

Wages

€XX.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry analysis

The freight forwarding services industry has faced many challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains and impacted demand for freight services. The industry had to adapt rapidly to meet changing needs. Reduced passenger flights impacted air freight, while sea freight faced delays due to port closures and container shortages. On the positive side, e-commerce growth has raised demand for logistics and fulfilment services.

European coverage with a localised twist

  • Market estimates from 2014 - 2029
  • Detailed reports analysing industry performance, market dynamics and company data, compared across countries
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe key trends

Transformative technology drives efficiency.

 

The adoption of technology enhances operational efficiency, allowing freight forwarding businesses in Europe to navigate challenges, maintain competitiveness and achieve sustained growth.

Resilient diversification counters revenue fluctuations.

 

Freight forwarders in Europe strategically diversify services, including value-added solutions, mitigating revenue declines and ensuring stability amid market uncertainties.

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Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe

Industry Revenue

Total value and annual change from 2011-2029. Includes 5-year outlook.

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Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe market size (2019-2024)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €358.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Adopting sustainable logistics in the Benelux region enhances eco-friendly freight forwarding

  • The Benelux region is embracing sustainability in freight forwarding, with the Netherlands leading the way. Companies like DHL Supply Chain Netherlands are transitioning to electric vehicles, significantly reducing emissions.

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Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Promoting a greener future for European logistics involves sustainable freight forwarding solutions

  • Sustainable practices are paramount. Belgium's Port of Antwerp is investing in greener logistics, incorporating eco-friendly solutions to reduce emissions and create an environmentally responsible freight forwarding industry.

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Revenue

€358.6bn

2019-2024 4.9 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Employees

1m

2019-2024 0.1 %
2024-2029 X.X %

Wages

€XX.Xbn

2019-2024 X.X %
2024-2029 X.X %

European Leaders & Laggards

Europe Job Growth CAGR: 0.1 % *
  • Job Growth

Top 5 Countries

  1. Italy +6.4%
  2. Poland +6.2%
  3. Lithuania +5.3%
  4. Romania +3.2%
  5. Cyprus -1.1%

Bottom 5 Countries

  1. Germany-2.5%
  2. Greece -2.4%
  3. Russia -2.4%
  4. Ireland-2.4%
  5. France -2.4%

* CAGR values are for the years 2019-2024.

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Biggest companies in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Profit (€m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Kuehne + Nagel International AG
42,429.6
4,052.6
9.6
DHL Global Forwarding
31,727.4
2,414.1
7.6
DB Schenker
31,015.9
2,822.5
9.1

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Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe

Products & Services Segmentation

Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.

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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe in 2024?

The market size of the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe is €358.6bn in 2024. 

How many businesses are there in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry in 2024?

There are 148k businesses in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024. 

What is the forecast growth of the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents market in Europe?

The biggest companies operating in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents market in Europe are Kuehne + Nagel International AG, DHL Global Forwarding and DB Schenker

What does the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe include?

Road freight forwarding and Maritime freight forwarding are part of the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe?

The company holding the most market share in Europe is Kuehne + Nagel International AG.

Which countries have the most businesses in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe?

The European country with the most businesses in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry is Russia.

How competitive is the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents industry in Europe.

Related Industries

This industry is covered in 37 countries

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Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry provides support services to freight transport industries. These include freight forwarding, customs and freight brokerage, stock consolidation and goods-handling operations.

Related Terms

FREIGHT FORWARDING BROKERAGE CUSTOM BROKRAGE FREIGHT FORWARDING

What's included in this industry?

Road freight forwardingMaritime freight forwardingRail freight forwardingInland waterways freight forwardingAir freight forwarding

Companies

Kuehne + Nagel International AGDHL Global ForwardingDB Schenker

Industry Code

ISIC 2006

5229 - Other transportation support activities in Europe

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Performance

Key Takeaways

Adopting sustainable logistics in the Benelux region enhances eco-friendly freight forwarding

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Revenue Highlights

Trends
  • Revenue
  • 2024 Revenue CAGR
  • Revenue Volatility

Employment Highlights

Trends
  • Employees
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Employee

Business Highlights

Trends
  • Businesses
  • Employees per Business
  • Revenue per Business

Profit Highlights

Trends
  • Total Profit
  • Profit Margin
  • Profit per Business

Current Performance

Charts
  • Revenue in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Employees in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Business in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
  • Profit in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry (2011 -2029)
Analysis

What's driving current industry performance in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry?


Outlook

Analysis

What's driving the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry outlook?


Volatility

Analysis

What influences volatility in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix

Life Cycle

Analysis

What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry?

Charts
  • Industry Life Cycle Matrix

Products and Markets

Highlights

Trends
  • Largest Market
  • Product Innovation

Key Takeaways

E-commerce expansion catapults growth. The freight forwarding industry in Europe leverages the booming e-commerce sector, offering tailored logistics solutions, amplifying market presence and fostering substantial revenue growth.

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Products and Services

Charts
  • Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis

How are the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry's products and services performing?

Analysis

What are innovations in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry's products and services?


Major Markets

Charts
  • Major Market Segmentation
Analysis

What influences demand in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry?


International Trade

Highlights

  • Largest Importer
  • Smallest Importer
  • Total Imports into Europe
  • Largest Exporter
  • Smallest Exporter
  • Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
  • Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
  • Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables

Value and annual change (%) included

  • Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2024)

Geographic Breakdown

Business Locations

Heat maps
  • Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2024)
  • Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2024)

Industry Geographic Breakdown

Data Tables

Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:

  • Revenue (2024)
  • IVA (2024)
  • Enterprises (2024)
  • Employment (2024)
  • Exports (2024)
  • Imports (2024)

Competitive Forces

Highlights

Trends
  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power

Key Takeaways

Market dominance spurs efficiency gains. Having a high market share in the European freight forwarding industry fosters operational efficiencies, allowing dominant players to streamline processes, enhance services and maintain competitiveness.

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Supply Chain

Charts

Buyer and supply industries

Companies

Market Share

Charts
  • Industry Market Share by Company (2019-2024)

Companies

Data Tables

Top 11 companies by market share:

  • Market share (2024)
  • Revenue (2024)
  • Profit (2024)
  • Profit Margin (2024)

Data Tables
  • Countries of operation for Kuehne + Nagel International AG
  • Countries of operation for DHL Global Forwarding
  • Countries of operation for DB Schenker
  • Countries of operation for DSV A/S
  • Countries of operation for Geodis SA
  • Countries of operation for Bollore Logistics
  • Countries of operation for Dachser Group SE & Co. KG
  • Countries of operation for Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
  • Countries of operation for XPO Logistics Europe SA
  • Countries of operation for XPO Logistics, Inc.
  • Countries of operation for Ceva Logistics

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Stringent regulations reshape freight practices. Evolving regulatory frameworks in Europe impact freight forwarding operations, compelling companies to adapt and innovate to comply with changing standards and policies.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Strategic innovations fuel profit surge. Innovative technologies and business strategies drive the rising profitability of the freight forwarding industry in Europe, ensuring sustained financial growth.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in Europe industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and boottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.