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Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Seth Lee Seth Lee New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 48899CA

Revenue

$2.3bn

2024

$2.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

6,896

Businesses

3,094

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada industry analysis

Packing and logistics service providers offer logistics services such as packing, crating, logistics consulting and trade documentation. Growth in global economic activity spurred retail sales and activity increases in most downstream manufacturing industries, bolstering demand for freight packing and logistics services. Revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% to $2.3 billion through the end of 2024, including growth of 0.2% in 2023 alone. Despite strong revenue growth, profit has stagnated as intensifying competition has heightened price competition..

Trends and Insights

  • The need for freight packing and logistics services is surging with rising e-commerce sales. Despite sharp declines in international trade, service providers have enjoyed significant growth, paralleling the historic rise in online sales.
  • Packing and crating services generate the most revenue. The surge in e-commerce has increased the need for these services from wholesalers and retailers striving to keep up with online orders. This trend underscores the critical role of logistics in the digital marketplace.
  • Freight packing and logistics providers often set up near major trade hubs. These hubs include major ports like those in Ontario and Vancouver, optimizing operations and reducing transportation times. Their strategic locations help improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
  • Freight packing and logistics service providers face intense competition based on reputation. New companies continually enter the market, so providers offering fast delivery and secure fragile shipment handling tend to see the most profit.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

E-commerce directly improves downstream demand

  • Despite high interest rates and inflationary pressures, the economy has been strong enough to blunt these impacts. Higher consumer spending is driving this industry forward, while retail sales picking up steam are also boosting it.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

IATA programs make shipping easier

  • Many freight packing and logistics providers have benefited from electronic trade documentation platforms. For instance, the International Air Travel Association (IATA) has implemented IATA e-freight, a global cargo paperless environment program, designed for simpler, electronic, paper-free air cargo shipping worldwide.

Biggest companies in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Cratex Industries Ltd.
24.1
N/A
N/A
Bollore Logistics Canada Inc.
21.9
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Packing and crating services, Logistics and support services and Other services. Packing and crating services is the largest segment of the Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada.

Trends and Insights

E-commerce has bolstered packing and crating services

  • Packing and crating services account for the vast majority of revenue for packing and logistics service providers. Packing and crating involve putting freight into various containers, including crates, pallets and plastic wraps. Many companies also offer specialized services, including packaging unique products like industrial equipment or weapon systems.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Freight Packing and Logistics Services industry in Canada mainly provides specialized services to transportation companies, such as packing, crating and otherwise preparing goods for transportation. This industry does not include packaging and labelling services.

What's included in this industry?

Packing freight CratingFreight consolidation Logistics consultingPreparing transportation documents

Companies

Cratex Industries Ltd.Bollore Logistics Canada Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PALLETPOOLING SERVICESCRATING

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 488990 - Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada

Performance

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

The need for freight packing and logistics services is surging with rising e-commerce sales. Despite sharp declines in international trade, service providers have enjoyed sig...

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

Packing and crating services generate the most revenue. The surge in e-commerce has increased the need for these services from wholesalers and retailers striving to keep up w...

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

Freight packing and logistics providers often set up near major trade hubs. These hubs include major ports like those in Ontario and Vancouver, optimizing operations and redu...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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

Freight packing and logistics service providers face intense competition based on reputation. New companies continually enter the market, so providers offering fast delivery ...

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

No single company dominates. Diverse downstream markets and heavy competition have kept market concentration low. Not one service provider captures more than 3.0% of the mark...

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 Cratex Industries Ltd.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Bollore Logistics Canada Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Cratex Industries Ltd., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Bollore Logistics Canada Inc., 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

Retail sales drive the need for service providers. Strong consumer spending is crucial for packing and logistics providers, as retail products often need more customization i...

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

Strong growth has attracted many new entrants, but competition is hurting profitability. Despite rising revenue, increased competition is squeezing profit.

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

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • 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 Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada is $2.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 3,094 businesses in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services market in Canada are Cratex Industries Ltd. and Bollore Logistics Canada Inc.

What does the Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada include?

Packing freight and Crating are part of the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Cratex Industries Ltd..

How competitive is the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Freight Packing & Logistics Services industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in Canada
  • General Warehousing & Storage in Canada
  • Couriers & Local Delivery Services in Canada

International industries

  • Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in the US
  • Freight Packing & Logistics Services in the US
  • Third-Party Logistics in the US
  • Product Returns Management Services in the US
  • Customs Agency Services in Australia

View all industries in Canada

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 in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

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.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.