Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $418.8bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Normalization brings returned revenue growth but volatility remains
- As economies normalize post-pandemic, global courier and delivery services have rebounded from recent lows. However, volatility remains, particularly regarding profit, a result of rising operational costs and fluctuating oil prices.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Major couriers to expand market share through acquisitions and global trade
- Over the next five years, large couriers will likely acquire smaller businesses in developing markets, leveraging their strong financial positions to expand networks and solidify market share. This strategy will accelerate their global reach and outpace competitors in emerging economies.
Biggest companies in the Global Courier & Delivery Services
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
United Parcel Service Inc. | 81,900.0 | 9,900.0 | 12.1 | |
FedEx Corporation | 78,400.0 | 4,200.0 | 5.4 | |
Deutsche Post DHL Group | 54,300.0 | 4,900.0 | 9.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Air transit courier services including express, Surface couriers and messengers and All other services. Air transit courier services including express is the largest segment of the Global Courier & Delivery Services.
Trends and Insights
Air transit courier services are largely dominated by the largest players
- Air transit courier services involve shipping packages and parcels by air, offering same-day, overnight and next-day delivery options. These services are crucial for time-sensitive shipments, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in the Global Courier and Delivery Services industry primarily provide air, surface or combined express courier delivery services of parcels, documents and packages for business customers. Industry operators generally provide services between metropolitan areas or urban centers and form a network that includes local pickup and delivery to serve customers’ needs. This industry excludes services provided by national postal services and commercial airlines.
What's included in this industry?
Providing air, surface or combined courier delivery servicesProviding express messenger and delivery servicesDelivering parcels, documents and packagesPacking and sorting operationsTransferring and trucking (without storage)Delivering time-sensitive and high-value-to-weight productsCompanies
United Parcel Service Inc.FedEx CorporationDeutsche Post DHL GroupPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
LESS-THAN-TRUCKLOADREGISTERED POSTEXPRESS DELIVERYPerformance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Courier profit volatility persists despite rebounding revenues. The global courier industry confronts new challenges, such as soaring fuel prices and heightened operational c...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Business segment dynamics are shifting dramatically. The traditional courier model faces challenges as B2B demands drop due to the climb in digital document transmission. How...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
North America and Europe are witnessing a gradual market share drop. While these regions remain necessary for courier services, the allure of emerging Asian markets, with the...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Business Locations Charts
- Share of global output by region in 2024
- Share of population compared to output in each region in 2024
- Data tables
- Share of global output by region in 2024
- Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Global, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Large courier firms' market dominance continues to grow. Renowned companies like UPS, FedEx and DHL strengthen their competitive edge by leveraging widespread network capabil...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The largest companies typically outperform the average player. The largest courier and delivery service companies, like UPS and FedEx, boast profit regularly in the double-di...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of United Parcel Service Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of FedEx Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Deutsche Post DHL Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for United Parcel Service Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for FedEx Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Deutsche Post DHL Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The regulatory landscape demands strategic compliance. Companies operating globally face regulatory challenges, such as stringent safety standards and environmental complianc...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Rising wages heighten financial pressures. Increased labor costs consume more revenue, reversing trends of decreasing costs because of automation. Smaller companies are notab...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
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)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global in 2024?
The market size of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global is $418.8bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in 2024?
There are 8,444 businesses in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Courier & Delivery Services market in Global?
The biggest companies operating in the Global Courier & Delivery Services market in Global are United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corporation and Deutsche Post DHL Group
What does the Global Courier & Delivery Services in Global include?
Providing air, surface or combined courier delivery services and Providing express messenger and delivery services are part of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Global Courier & Delivery Services in Global?
The company holding the most market share in Global is United Parcel Service Inc..
How competitive is the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in Global.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Global Cargo Airlines
- Global Airport Operation
Complementors
- Global Commercial Aircraft Manufacturing
- Global Airlines
International industries
- Couriers & Local Delivery Services in the US
- Couriers & Local Delivery Services in Canada
- Courier Pick-up and Delivery Services in Australia
- Postal and Courier Pick-up and Delivery Services in New Zealand
- Postal & Courier Activities in the UK
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources globally include:
- United Nations Comtrade
- Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development
- World Bank
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
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. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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