Europe Freight Forwarding Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis Report By Customer Type (B2B, and B2C), By Mode of Transport (Road, Maritime, Rail, and Air), By Service (Transportation & Warehousing, Value Added Services, Packaging, and Other Service), B

The Europe Freight Forwarding Market would witness market growth of 4.4% CAGR during the forecast period (2025-2032).

The Germany market dominated the Europe Freight Forwarding Market by Country in 2024, and would continue to be a dominant market till 2032; thereby, achieving a market value of $16,788.5 million by 2032. The UK market is exhibiting a CAGR of 3.2% during (2025 - 2032). Additionally, The France market would experience a CAGR of 5.2% during (2025 - 2032).

The freight forwarding market in Europe plays a pivotal role in facilitating international trade, serving as the intermediary between shippers and transportation services. Its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century, emerging alongside the growth of trade. Initially, freight forwarders focused on simplifying the paperwork and coordination required to transport goods across borders. However, with the formation of the European Union and the single market, the sector underwent significant transformation.

The harmonization of customs procedures and the removal of internal borders within the EU enabled faster and more seamless cross-border movement of goods. Freight forwarders capitalized on this by offering end-to-end logistics solutions that combined multiple modes of transport—road, rail, air, and sea. This multimodal capability became a hallmark of the European freight forwarding model, allowing goods to move from inland production centers to coastal export hubs efficiently.

Germany is the largest freight forwarding market in Europe, acting as the continent’s logistics backbone due to its central location and highly developed infrastructure. The country hosts major seaports like Hamburg and Bremerhaven, an extensive highway and rail network, and serves as a transit hub for goods moving across Europe. The German manufacturing economy—particularly automotive, engineering, and chemicals—drives significant import-export volumes, which require sophisticated forwarding services. Germany’s role in pan-European trade also gives rise to strong demand for multimodal freight solutions integrating road, rail, air, and waterways.

The freight forwarding industry in the UK is shaped by its status as a major trading nation with strong maritime, air, and road connectivity. Key ports like Felixstowe and Southampton, and air freight centers such as Heathrow and East Midlands, handle substantial volumes of containerized, bulk, and time-sensitive goods. The UK’s trade relationships with Europe, North America, and Asia fuel continuous demand for logistics and forwarding services. Following Brexit, customs procedures and documentation have become more complex, making freight forwarders critical intermediaries for businesses managing cross-border shipments.

France’s freight forwarding market is a vital part of its trade and transportation ecosystem, supported by major seaports like Le Havre and Marseille, as well as Charles de Gaulle Airport—one of Europe’s busiest for cargo. France serves as a conduit between Southern and Northern Europe and connects to key corridors to Spain, Germany, and the Benelux region. Its industrial economy, including aerospace, luxury goods, automotive, and agriculture, underpins consistent freight activity requiring diverse forwarding capabilities. Therefore, Europe’s freight forwarding sector is evolving through sustainability, digitalization, and intermodal expansion, with mature infrastructure supporting competitive and innovation-led growth.

Based on Customer Type, the market is segmented into B2B, and B2C. Based on Mode of Transport, the market is segmented into Road, Maritime, Rail, and Air. Based on Service, the market is segmented into Transportation & Warehousing, Value Added Services, Packaging, and Other Service. Based on Application, the market is segmented into Industrial & Manufacturing, Retail & e-commerce, Food & Beverages, Healthcare, Oil & Gas, Media & Entertainment, and Other Application. Based on countries, the market is segmented into Germany, UK, France, Russia, Spain, Italy, and Rest of Europe.

List of Key Companies Profiled

• Kuehne + Nagel International AG (Kuehne Holding AG)
• Deutsche Post DHL Group (The Deutsche Post AG)
• Deutsche Bahn AG (DB Schenker)
• DSV A/S
• FedEx Corporation
• Nippon Express Co., Ltd.
• A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S
• CEVA Logistics (CMA CGM Group)
• Uber Freight Holding Corporation (Uber Technologies, Inc.)
• United Parcel Service, Inc.

Europe Freight Forwarding Market Report Segmentation

By Customer Type

• B2B
• B2C

By Mode of Transport

• Road
• Maritime
• Rail
• Air

By Service

• Transportation & Warehousing
• Value Added Services
• Packaging
• Other Service

By Application

• Industrial & Manufacturing
• Retail & e-commerce
• Food & Beverages
• Healthcare
• Oil & Gas
• Media & Entertainment
• Other Application

By Country

• Germany
• UK
• France
• Russia
• Spain
• Italy
• Rest of Europe