Warehousing & Storage in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
London, United Kingdom
Last Updated: June 2024
SIC H52.100Revenue
£36.3bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
£X.Xbn
Employees
277k
Businesses
5,037
Wages
£X.Xbn
Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry analysis
The Warehousing and Storage industry provides its clients with storage facilities for various goods, including general merchandise. It also offers specialised storage of liquids and gases, agricultural commodities and refrigerated goods. The popularity of online shopping and fast-moving consumer goods in the UK has become an increasingly important trend, helping to strengthen the need for warehousing and storage. Supply chains have become increasingly complex and the industry has adapted to satisfy new customer demands. Warehouses have developed into distribution centres, where goods can be packed and held for final delivery. Over the five years through 2024-25, the UK warehousing and storage industry is expected to expand at a compound annual rate of 5.6% to £36.3 billion.
Trends and Insights
- E-commerce boom boosts warehouse space needs. The rapid expansion of e-commerce has drastically increased the requirement for warehousing, with online retailers significantly escalating their warehouse footprint to accommodate the growing demand.
- COVID-19 increased demand for cold storage. The pandemic created an unprecedented demand for cold storage thanks to increased supermarket and pharmaceutical storage volumes amid panic buying and the necessity for ultra-cold storage for COVID-19 testing kits and vaccines.
- Prime location fuels the UK's 'golden triangle' of logistics. Central to the UK, the Midland's easy access to the M1 and M6 and large airports, Birmingham International Airport and East Midlands Airport, makes it a popular location for industry operators.
- Specialisation fuels the warehouse industry's capital intensity. Investment in inventory management systems, automation, and advanced tracking technology is necessary to thrive in the industry's high-growth areas. The need for specialised skills escalates capital intensity and staffing costs.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £36.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Stockpiling expands the need for warehousing in the lead-up to Brexit
- The UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) stated in March 2019 that the industry would be significantly threatened if the UK left the EU without a trade deal. Many industries responded to the uncertainty by increasing the stock held in storage and warehousing.
- 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
Online retailing propels the need for more warehousing
- Online retailing requires well-stocked warehouses ready to fulfil orders, typically holding more stock than traditional bricks-and-mortar retail outlets. With online retail penetration forecast to pass 30% in the UK by 2028, we expect online retailers to expand their share of the warehouse market.
Biggest companies in the Warehousing & Storage in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Amazon UK Services Ltd | 6,537.4 | |
GXO Logistics UK Ltd | 1,954.9 | |
DHL Supply Chain Ltd | 1,439.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 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 Cold storage, Liquid and gas storage and General storage. Cold storage is the largest segment of the Warehousing & Storage in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Downstream clients are increasingly relying on value-added distribution services
- Distribution services have become increasingly involved in integrated logistics and supply chains, moving into preparing and packaging individual deliveries or managing inventory levels on behalf of clients.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Freight Rail Transport in the UK
- Freight Road Transport in the UK
- Removal Services in the UK
- Freight Forwarding & Customs Agents in the UK
International industries
- General Warehousing & Storage in the US
- Refrigerated Storage in the US
- Farm Product Storage & Warehousing in the US
- Specialized Storage & Warehousing in the US
- Mobile Storage Services in the US
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry consists of businesses operating storage facilities for all kinds of goods, including grain silos, storage tanks, general merchandise and refrigerated warehouses. The sector also stores goods in foreign trade zones, as well as furniture repositories and freezers.
What's included in this industry?
Cold storageLiquid and gas storageGeneral storageDistribution servicesDocument storageOther storageCompanies
Amazon UK Services LtdGXO Logistics UK LtdDHL Supply Chain LtdPurchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
COLD STORAGERADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)FAST-MOVING CONSUMER GOODS (FMCG)OMNICHANNEL DISTRIBUTIONIndustry Code
SIC 52.10 - Warehousing & Storage in the UK
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
E-commerce boom boosts warehouse space needs. The rapid expansion of e-commerce has drastically increased the requirement for warehousing, with online retailers significantly...
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
COVID-19 increased demand for cold storage. The pandemic created an unprecedented demand for cold storage thanks to increased supermarket and pharmaceutical storage volumes a...
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
Prime location fuels the UK's 'golden triangle' of logistics. Central to the UK, the Midland's easy access to the M1 and M6 and large airports, Birmingham International Airpo...
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
Specialisation fuels the warehouse industry's capital intensity. Investment in inventory management systems, automation, and advanced tracking technology is necessary to thri...
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
Amazon's dominance is thanks to massive growth and strategic investments. With an exponential rise in online retailing propelled by the pandemic and targeted infrastructure i...
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 Amazon UK Services Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of GXO Logistics UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of DHL Supply Chain Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Amazon UK Services Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for GXO Logistics UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for DHL Supply Chain Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Changes in warehousing customs procedures. Post-Brexit, customs warehouses in Great Britain don't necessarily require a Customs Comprehensive Guarantee; instead, an inland cl...
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
Increased depreciation costs dent short-term profitability. As firms invest in automation, storage technology, and warehouse remodelling to handle fast-paced consumer goods m...
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 (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- 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)
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 the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £36.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 5,037 businesses in the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 5.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Warehousing & Storage in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Warehousing & Storage market in United Kingdom are Amazon UK Services Ltd, GXO Logistics UK Ltd and DHL Supply Chain Ltd
What does the Warehousing & Storage in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Cold storage and Liquid and gas storage are part of the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Warehousing & Storage in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Amazon UK Services Ltd.
How competitive is the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and decreasing in the Warehousing & Storage in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
