Freight Forwarding - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Freight Forwarding Market size is estimated at USD 176.02 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 215.81 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.16% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Key Highlights

• The market is driven by the huge trade volumes occurring across different regions. Furthermore, the resumption of internal air freight has propelled the market growth.
• The influx of black swan events in 2022 underscored the importance of flexible and resilient supply chains for the freight forwarding industry. These unanticipated events can have a massively disruptive impact on supply chains. Supply chains have been repeatedly tested in recent years, from the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the Suez Canal obstruction and the war in Ukraine. Staffing shortages, capacity issues, inflation, and demand peaks were also challenges for the freight market. Supply chains are facing more diverse and unpredictable challenges and issues than ever before. The year 2023 will be no different, and the need for domestic and international freight forwarders to be resilient and prepared for anything has never been greater.
• Agility, flexibility, and visibility, all of which are often aided by digitalization, are essential for weathering a storm. Freight forwarders can improve efficiency with the right technology and the ability to collect and analyze data. They are also better positioned to capitalize on opportunities that arise outside of times of disruption. With geopolitical tensions and rising inflation, 2023 is widely expected to be a year of economic slowdown. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global economic growth will slow from 6.0% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2022 and 2.7% in 2023. Meanwhile, the World Trade Organization recently revised its global trade growth forecast for 2023 to 1.0%, down from 3.4% previously. This loss of momentum in many markets will have a significant impact on the customers of freight forwarders.
• In addition to the resumption of freighter schedules, more airline passenger capacity is returning to the market. In 2023, international air travel is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels. While rates are still higher than pre-pandemic levels, they are still low. Rates are expected to fall in the first quarter of 2023 unless demand increases. Demand is still low, with no signs of a peak-season surge, as inventories and sales are down due to weak consumer demand. This pattern is expected to continue into early 2023. Trade restrictions involving China, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and Europe will suffocate and disrupt global supply chains even further. Suppliers are looking for alternative sourcing locations other than China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
• Logistics managers are informing clients that the ocean freight market is correcting itself faster than expected. The transition from a supply chain that struggled to keep up with unprecedented pandemic demand to a weak demand environment and a freight market that is now oversupplied with both ships and containers highlights the risk of a prolonged global economic downturn. To combat inflation, central banks around the world are raising interest rates. One goal of central banks, including the Federal Reserve, is to reduce demand, which is lowering supply chain prices, which were at record highs and were a significant contributor to inflation. However, monetary policy is treading water because a supply-demand rebalancing can backfire.

Freight Forwarding Market Trends

Growth in Cross-Border and Sea Trade Driving the Market

As multiple shocks weigh on the global economy, global trade is expected to lose momentum in the second half of 2022 and remain subdued in 2023. WTO economists now forecast a 3.5% growth in global merchandise trade volumes in 2022, up from 3.0% in April 2022. However, they predict a 1.0% increase in 2023, a significant decrease from the previous estimate of 3.4%. Import demand is expected to soften as growth in major economies slows for a variety of reasons. High energy prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict will reduce household spending and raise manufacturing costs in Europe. Monetary policy tightening in the United States will have an impact on interest-sensitive spending in areas such as housing, automobiles, and fixed investment.

Canada's merchandise imports increased by 3.9% in February 2022, following a 7.5% decline in January 2022. Meanwhile, exports increased by 2.8% in February 2022, owing primarily to increased exports of energy products. As a result, Canada's global merchandise trade surplus fell from USD 3.1 billion in January to USD 2.7 billion in February. Imports of basic and industrial chemicals, plastics, and rubber products increased 5.6% in February, owing in part to record-high imports of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemical products (+18.4%). A slew of recent events has had an impact on this industry, including lower Chinese output, new Russian fertilizer export quotas, and the Ukraine conflict. These occurrences raise concerns about the availability and cost of these products, resulting in a typical movement for Canadian fertilizer imports.

For those working in the container shipping industry, 2022 was a profitable year. The end of the pandemic is expected to make the shipping scenario more stable than it has been in the previous two years. The volume of international container exports increased by around 2-3% in 2022. This is due not only to last year's backlogs but also to the maritime shipping sector's slow recovery. Furthermore, port congestion is expected to normalise in the coming months around the world. However, this was heavily dependent on the pandemic, as another COVID-19 outbreak could worsen the situation.

Increasing Air Freight to Reduce Time Propelling the Market Growth

The air freight industry is currently dealing with several issues, including grounded planes, route reductions, and a drop in demand. Some multinational air freight companies are reporting a drop in demand compared to the pandemic period. The peak season for e-commerce has already begun, with less than two months until the start of the holiday season. However, despite the time of year, the air freight sector is experiencing a drop in consumer demand, as opposed to the previous two years' burgeoning demand for goods. Simply put, air freight companies anticipate a subdued fourth quarter of 2022 due to several factors.

Customer needs are fueling a growing trend toward omnichannel techniques. Airlines are recognising the need to expand their operations beyond traditional airport-to-airport routes, and airlines and other stakeholders are already recognizing the benefits of providing end-to-end assistance. As this trend resumes, agreements between airlines and shippers are likely to prosper. Air shipment will most likely adopt an omnichannel strategy in the future, making it easier to compete for limited cargo capacity and reasonable pricing. In addition to the opportunities for air cargo, there are additional challenges, with the significant concession feigning recruitment crises for the business on both freight and passenger positions, as it is for various sectors.

Freight Forwarding Industry Overview

The freight forwarding market is fragmented with a mix of global, regional, and local players. Small- and medium-sized local players still serve the market with small fleets and storage spaces. However, the top 20 players dominate the market, accounting for more than 50% of the total market. Leading players in the market include DHL Global Forwarding, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, DB Schenker, DSV, Expeditors International, and many more. As the freight forwarding market is growing steadily and there exists abundant opportunity, the players need to embrace technologies, become more digitized, and increase the scale and efficiency of their operations. Having a strong network spanning the globe is important for companies. International investors are increasingly interested in mergers and acquisitions in the ASEAN logistics market. Global logistics companies have been expanding in the ASEAN region because of increased commerce and trade activities.

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