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Logistics in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Veton Hoxhaj Veton Hoxhaj Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: September 2024 WZ H00.01DE

Revenue

€400.5bn

2024

€400.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XX.Xbn

Employees

2m

Businesses

77,936

Wages

€XX.Xbn

Logistics in Germany industry analysis

In the 2010s, the logistics sector benefited from the largely favourable economic situation in Germany and on a global level. Advancing globalisation and the growth of e-commerce also contributed to the almost constant growth in freight transport volumes. At the same time, however, the sector is facing various challenges. For example, many bureaucratic processes in rail freight transport are inefficiently structured and insufficiently digitalised. Inland freight shipping, for example, is struggling with more frequent periods of low water. In addition, most players are exposed to high price pressure due to low customer loyalty and strong competition. Turnover in the logistics sector is expected to increase by 0.2% to 400.5 billion euros in 2024. However, for the overall period from 2019 to 2024, the average annual increase in turnover will be 3.9%.The Ukraine crisis and high crude oil prices are putting pressure on road freight transport, while companies in the postal, courier and express service sector are focusing on optimisation measures. Warehousing companies are differentiating themselves by offering additional services such as order picking, while the air freight industry is proving to be a globalisation winner thanks to fast delivery times. Rail freight transport is being subsidised by the state in order to relieve the pressure on road transport, and many German sea freight ships are sailing under foreign flags for cost reasons. These developments and digitalisation are shaping the dynamics of the logistics sector and driving the search for innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. Companies are therefore faced with the challenge of working efficiently and sustainably while at the same time managing global trends and regulatory changes.IBISWorld expects turnover generated in the logistics sector to increase by an average of 1.1% per year until 2029, reaching 422.7 billion euros in 2029. The road freight transport of the future is likely to be largely determined by gigaliners, electromobility and autonomous driving. However, the logistics sector is also facing challenges such as rising commodity prices, protectionism and the trend towards near-sourcing. Customers increasingly expect logistics services from a single source, which could lead to greater market concentration. Given the unpredictability of the global market and geopolitical tensions, as well as environmental protection requirements, adaptability in the logistics sector is becoming more than ever the key to success. Technological innovation, strategic alliances and an increasing focus on sustainability will therefore pave the way for change in the logistics sector in the coming years.

Trends and Insights

  • The volume of freight transported across borders has tended to increase in recent decades. The air freight industry has benefited particularly strongly from this.
  • The largest segment of the sector in terms of revenue comprises the transport of goods by sea and inland waterways. More than 90 per cent of the goods traded worldwide are transported by water.
  • The Mitte region is the most densely populated region in Germany and is also home to many industrial companies. The high population density in the centre region and its industrial strength mean that many goods are transported here, which may also need to be stored temporarily.
  • The most important competitive factor within the sector is the price at which the players offer certain services to customers. In this context, factors such as cost efficiency or the recruitment of the cheapest possible employees play a major role.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €400.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The Ukraine crisis and the associated high crude oil prices are having a negative impact on the road freight transport sector

  • Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the road freight transport industry has been facing major challenges due to the sharp rise in crude oil prices.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Logistics in Germany
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

Biggest companies in the Logistics in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Deutsche Post AG
39,590.0
Hapag-Lloyd AG
17,567.7
Deutsche Bahn AG
14,128.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Logistics in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transport of goods by ship, Parcel delivery, letter dispatch and removal transport and Freight transport by lorry. Transport of goods by ship is the largest segment of the Logistics in Germany.

Trends and Insights

The efficient and cost-effective transport of goods by ship is of enormous importance for the German economy

  • The strongest segment of the sector in terms of revenue is the transport of goods by sea and inland waterways.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The logistics sector includes the transport of goods by rail (H49.20DE), road transport (H49.41DE), removal transport (H49.42DE), pipelines (H49.50DE), maritime transport (H50.20DE), inland waterway transport (H50.40DE), air transport (H51.21DE) and by post (H53.00DE) as well as warehousing (H52.10DE), operation of airports (H52.23DE), cargo handling (H52.24DE) and freight forwarding (H52.29aDE).

What's included in this industry?

Transport of goods, merchandise and documents using a wide variety of means of transportStorage of goods and merchandiseCargo handlingOperation of airportsCoordination of goods transport

Companies

Deutsche Post AGHapag-Lloyd AGDeutsche Bahn AG

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BELLYFRACHTCARRIERGIGALINERINTERMODAL TRANSPORTORDER PICKINGCONTRACT LOGISTICSLAST MILLIONNEARSOURCINGIMPACT

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 52.2 - Logistics in Germany

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 volume of freight transported across borders has tended to increase in recent decades. The air freight industry has benefited particularly strongly from this.

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

The largest segment of the sector in terms of revenue comprises the transport of goods by sea and inland waterways. More than 90 per cent of the goods traded worldwide are tr...

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

The Mitte region is the most densely populated region in Germany and is also home to many industrial companies. The high population density in the centre region and its indus...

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

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, 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

The most important competitive factor within the sector is the price at which the players offer certain services to customers. In this context, factors such as cost efficienc...

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

Deutsche Post currently operates around 27,000 branches or points of sale in Germany, but almost none of them are operated by the company itself. Many of them are integrated ...

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 Deutsche Post AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Hapag-Lloyd AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Deutsche Bahn AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Deutsche Post AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Hapag-Lloyd AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Deutsche Bahn AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The state-guaranteed monopoly of Deutsche Post on letter delivery was finally abolished in 2007. The Postal Act provides the legal framework within which the economy and cons...

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

Operating costs, which include expenses for transport, storage, personnel and technology, are of decisive importance in the formation of the profit margin in the logistics sec...

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 Logistics industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Logistics industry in Germany is €400.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Logistics in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 77,936 businesses in the Logistics industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Logistics industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Logistics industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Logistics industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Logistics industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Logistics market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Logistics market in Germany are Deutsche Post AG, Hapag-Lloyd AG and Deutsche Bahn AG

What does the Logistics in Germany include?

Transport of goods, merchandise and documents using a wide variety of means of transport and Storage of goods and merchandise are part of the Logistics industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Logistics in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Deutsche Post AG.

How competitive is the Logistics industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Logistics industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Passenger Air Transport in Germany

Complementors

  • Boat Repair & Maintenance in Germany
  • Aircraft Repair & Maintenance in Germany

International industries

  • Global Deep-Sea, Coastal & Inland Water Transportation
  • Transportation and Warehousing in the US
  • Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in the US
  • Freight Packing & Logistics Services in the US
  • Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in Canada

View all industries in Germany

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 Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

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.