Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $580.3bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Tariffs, trade shifts and cross-border e-commerce volatility
- Trade policy changes, particularly new and higher tariffs on Chinese and other Asian exports to the US and Europe, as well as the tightening of de minimis rules, are reshaping cross-border parcel flows and revenue in 2025. North America and Western Europe are the most affected destinations, as they have introduced or proposed higher duties and stricter thresholds on small parcels, particularly in consumer categories such as electronics, apparel and home goods. China and broader Asia sit at the center of this shift as key origins, with some volumes rerouting through alternative hubs or shifting from direct-to-consumer air express to regional or surface-based solutions.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
E-commerce growth will drive investment in automation, hubs and last-mile capacity
- According to Capital One's Online Shopping Growth Statistics, global online retail sales will reach $8.9 trillion in 2030, up from $6.0 trillion in 2024. For couriers, this means parcel volumes will continue to climb, especially in cross-border and emerging-market lanes. Still, pricing power and revenue per shipment may lag as competition intensifies and consumer baskets skew toward low-weight, low-value items. The shift toward cross-border and marketplace-driven commerce (Amazon, Temu, SHEIN, regional platforms) will introduce more complexity into customs, returns and localized last-mile delivery.
Biggest companies in the Global Courier & Delivery Services
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 | Profit ($m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
United Parcel Service Inc. | 78,605.5 | 6,992.1 | 8.9 | |
Deutsche Post DHL Group | 53,602.5 | 5,144.4 | 9.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 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
Surface couriers and messengers remain the largest source of revenue
- Surface couriers and messengers rely on land-based delivery transportation, offering more affordable rates than air transit. These services take longer but provide a cost-effective option for transporting goods.
- 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?
Products and services covered in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry include Providing air, surface or combined courier delivery services, Providing express messenger and delivery services, Delivering parcels, documents and packages, Packing and sorting operations, Transferring and trucking (without storage) and Delivering time-sensitive and high-value-to-weight products.Companies
Companies covered in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry include United Parcel Service Inc. and Deutsche Post DHL Group.Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry include less-than-truckload, registered post and express delivery.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
Technological innovation is increasingly driving the industry, with AI and automation playing central roles. This shift enables faster and more efficient operations, even as ...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
Trade policy changes and e-commerce volatility are disrupting traditional models and flows within the global couriers and delivery industry. Tougher tariffs and changing regu...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
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
High growth rates and emerging trade corridors make India and Central Asia appealing to global courier companies. With the rapid adoption of e-commerce and the development of...
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Business Locations Charts
- Share of global output by region in 2025
- Share of population compared to output in each region in 2025
- Data tables
- Share of global output by region in 2025
- 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
Government-run postal services offer viable substitutes for cost, coverage and standard-speed parcel delivery. Leveraging their broad networks and service mandates, they can ...
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 2020-2025
- 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
UPS pivots from volume to higher-quality revenue. It is shedding low-margin traffic (notably Amazon), improving revenue per piece and targeting more profitable SMB and health...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of United Parcel Service Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Deutsche Post DHL Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for United Parcel Service Inc., 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
Internet usage has a significant impact on the courier and delivery industry. As online shopping surges with increased internet connection, demand for delivery services corre...
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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 costs, particularly labor and maintenance expenses, are exerting significant pressure on the industry. Carriers are employing a range of strategies, including network ...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
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 2025?
The market size of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry is $580.3bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry in 2025?
There are 31,182 businesses in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry, which has grown at a CAGR of 11.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry?
The Global Courier & Delivery Services industry is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry?
The Global Courier & Delivery Services industry is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry has been growing at a CAGR of 4.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry?
The biggest companies operating in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry are United Parcel Service Inc. and Deutsche Post DHL Group
What does the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry 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 industry?
The company holding the most market share in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry is United Parcel Service Inc..
How competitive is the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Global Courier & Delivery Services industry.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
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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.
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