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Freight Forwarding Market, Opportunity, Growth Drivers, Industry Trend Analysis and Forecast, 2025-2034

Publisher Global Market Insights
Published Nov 12, 2025
Length 348 Pages
SKU # GMI20613851

Description

The Global Freight Forwarding Market was valued at USD 149.6 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.6% to reach USD 281.5 billion by 2034.

Market growth is driven by rapid digitalization, dramatic e-commerce expansion, and growing demand for resilient, multimodal supply-chain solutions. Freight forwarders are increasingly moving beyond pure transaction execution to provide integrated orchestration combining ocean, air, road, rail, warehousing, and value-added services with API-first platforms, real-time visibility, and predictive analytics. These capabilities reduce friction in cross-border trade, speed customs clearance, and improve working capital management for shippers, while premium sustainability offerings (carbon accounting, green routing, SAF/marine biofuel coordination) are helping forwarders capture higher-margin business from corporates seeking verified Scope-3 reductions.

The market’s growth is being accelerated by structural trade shifts, nearshoring, and regionalization that increase intra-regional truck and rail volumes, and renewed long-haul demand where complex, high-documentation supply chains favor ocean and intermodal forwarding. Digital freight platforms now handle a significant share of bookings for air and sea, and automation of documentation (electronic single windows, paperless trade) lowers transaction costs while enabling faster cross-border flows. At the same time, geopolitical route disruptions (Red Sea incidents, Panama Canal droughts) and port congestion continue to push forwarders to invest in alternative routing, contingency capacity, and carrier diversification to maintain service reliability.

The transportation & warehousing segment generated USD 109.1 billion in 2024. This segment’s dominance reflects the integrated nature of modern forwarding: door-to-door transport bundled with warehousing, inventory management, kitting, and final-mile orchestration. Investment in automated fulfilment centres, dark warehouses, AGVs, and temperature-controlled capacity has enabled forwarders to offer more resilient, end-to-end solutions critical for retail omni-channel programs, time-sensitive healthcare shipments, and high-value electronics.

The ocean segment generated USD 66.9 billion in 2024. Ocean freight continues to account for most containerized tonnage and represents the biggest modal revenue pool as trade volumes re-normalize. Market growth is driven by containerized manufacturing exports, project cargo, and the premium placed on documentation and customs orchestration for complex supply chains. Ocean’s cost-sensitivity means forwarders differentiate through capacity management, multi-gateway routing, and value-added services (FCL/LCL optimization, project logistics), while green corridor initiatives and low-carbon bunker procurement are creating new advisory revenue streams.

North America Freight Forwarding Market generated USD 96.2 billion in 2024, supported by high trade intensity, mature cross-border trucking corridors (notably US–Mexico), and advanced digital adoption among shippers. North American growth is also driven by the expansion of nearshore manufacturing, omni-channel retailing, and investments in automation and customs modernization that accelerate throughput and reduce dwell times.

Major global players profiled in the Freight Forwarding Market include DHL Global Forwarding, DSV (post-DB Schenker integration), Kuehne + Nagel, DB Schenker, CEVA Logistics, UPS (Supply Chain/Logistics), FedEx, C.H. Robinson, Expeditors, Bolloré Logistics, and Nippon Express. Market leaders are deploying consistent strategies to strengthen footholds such as M&A and geographic expansion, aggressive acquisitions expand footprint and fill capability gaps ( >800 deals cited industry-wide), enabling cross-sell of integrated services. Platform and data investments API-first architectures, real-time visibility, and predictive analytics drive customer stickiness and enable higher-margin, subscription-style offerings. Sustainability productization, carbon accounting, green routing, and SAF/marine biofuel coordination create premium services for ESG-focused shippers. Vertical specialization and value-added services, including temperature-controlled, project logistics, and regulated-goods expertise, deepen client relationships and raise freight-under-management.

Table of Contents

348 Pages
Chapter 1 Research Methodology
1.1 Research design
1.1.1 Research approach
1.1.2 Data collection methods
1.2 Base estimates and calculations
1.2.1 Base year calculation
1.2.1.1 North America, Europe and Asia Pacific
1.2.2 Key trends for market estimates
1.3 Forecast
1.4 Primary research & validation
1.4.1 Primary sources
1.5 Data mining sources
1.5.1 Secondary
1.5.1.1 Paid sources
1.5.1.2 Sources, by category
1.6 Market definitions
1.7 Inclusions and Exclusions
1.7.1 Inclusions
1.7.2 Exclusions
Chapter 2 Executive Summary
2.1 Industry 360 degree synopsis, 2025 - 2034
2.2 Key market trends
2.2.1 Mode of transportation trends
2.2.2 Customer trends
2.2.3 Service trends
2.2.4 End Use trends
2.2.5 NA+EU+APAC Freight Regional trends
2.3 TAM analysis
2.4 CXO Perspectives
2.4.1 Strategic Imperatives
2.4.2 Key Decision Points for Industry Executives
2.4.3 Critical Success Factors for Market Players
2.5 Future Outlook
Chapter 3 Industry Insights
3.1 Industry ecosystem analysis
3.1.1 Suppliers Landscape
3.1.2 Profit Margin Analysis
3.1.3 Cost Structure Analysis
3.1.4 Value Addition at Each Stage
3.1.5 Factors Affecting the Value Chain
3.1.6 Ecosystem Disruptions
3.2 Impact on the industry
3.2.1 Growth drivers
3.2.1.1 E-commerce Expansion and Digital Trade Growth
3.2.1.2 Global Trade Recovery and Nearshoring/Reshoring Trends
3.2.1.3 Sustainability and Decarbonization Mandates
3.2.1.4 Technology Adoption and Digital Transformation
3.2.1.5 Supply Chain Resilience and Diversification Needs
3.2.1.6 Emerging Market Growth and Trade Facilitation
3.2.2 Strategic Challenges and Industry Restraints
3.2.2.1 Geopolitical Risks and Supply Chain Disruptions
3.2.2.2 Capacity Constraints and Infrastructure Bottlenecks
3.2.2.3 Regulatory Complexity and Compliance Burden
3.2.2.4 Labor Shortages and Talent Constraints
3.2.3 Market Opportunity Assessment
3.2.3.1 Digital Transformation and Platform-Based Services
3.2.3.2 Green Logistics and Sustainability Services
3.2.3.3 Value-Added Services and Vertical Integration
3.2.3.4 Regional Trade Growth and Corridor Development
3.2.3.5 Technology-Enabled Efficiency and Automation
3.3 Growth Potential Analysis
3.4 Regulatory Landscape Analysis
3.4.1 North America Regulatory Framework
3.4.1.1 United States Regulatory Modernization
3.4.1.2 Canada Digital Integration
3.4.2 Europe
3.4.3 Asia Pacific
3.5 Porter's analysis
3.6 PESTEL Analysis
3.7 Price Trend Analysis
3.7.1 Regional Price Dynamics
3.7.1.1 North America Price Elasticity and Sensitivity Analysis
3.7.1.2 Europe Price Arbitrage Opportunities
3.7.1.3 Asia Pacific Market Complexity
3.7.1.4 Pricing Power Distribution
3.7.1.5 Rate Cycle Analysis and Capacity-Pricing Relationships
3.8 Future Market Evolution
3.8.1 Scenario Planning and Trend Extrapolation
3.8.2 Technology Trajectory Implications
3.8.3 Market Structure Transformation
3.8.4 Competitive Landscape Evolution
3.9 Technology & Innovation Landscape
3.9.1 Current Technology Paradigms
3.9.1.1 Transportation Management Systems (TMS) & Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
3.9.1.2 Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms (RTTVP)
3.9.1.3 Back-Office Automation
3.9.1.4 Emerging Technology Disruptions
3.9.1.5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI
3.9.1.6 Blockchain and Electronic Bills of Lading (eBL)
3.10 Patent Landscape Intelligence
3.10.1 Innovation Hotspots and IP Concentration
3.10.2 Patent Cliff Analysis and Lifecycle Trends
3.10.3 R&D Investment Patterns and Strategic Trends
3.11 Trade Flow Analysis
3.11.1 Import Market Dynamics
3.11.1.1 Regional and Global Trends
3.11.1.2 Export Market Structure
3.11.1.3 Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Policy Impacts
3.11.1.4 Strategic Implications
3.12 Sustainability Integration
3.12.1 Sustainable Practice Adoption
3.12.2
3.12.2 Waste Reduction Innovation
3.12.3 Energy Efficiency Optimization
3.12.4 Environmental Initiative Impact
3.13 Carbon Impact Assessment
3.13.1 Carbon Footprint Quantification
3.13.2 Regulatory Compliance Requirements
3.13.3 Sustainability Competitive Advantage
3.14 Freight Forwarding Cost Breakdown Analysis
3.14.1 Cost Breakdown by Component
3.14.1.1 Direct Operational Cost Components
3.14.1.2 Indirect and Variable Costs
3.14.2 Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Models
3.14.2.1 TCO Structure
3.14.2.2 TCO Calculation Example (Trucking, per mile)
3.14.3 TCO in Multimodal/Export Chains
3.14.4 Cost Optimization Strategies
3.14.4.1 Operational Levers
3.14.4.2 Financial & Strategic Levers
3.15 Business Model Evolution
3.15.1 Traditional vs. Digital Freight Forwarding
3.15.1.1 Manual Processes vs. Automation
3.15.1.2 Email/Phone vs. Digital Platforms
3.15.1.3 Relationship-Based vs. Transactional
3.15.1.4 Full-Service vs. Unbundled Offerings
3.15.2 Revenue Models
3.15.2.1 Commission-Based Pricing
3.15.2.2 Fixed-Fee Structures
3.15.2.3 Value-Based Pricing
3.15.2.4 Subscription/Platform Models
3.15.3 Cost Structure Analysis
3.15.3.1 Fixed Costs: IT Infrastructure, Office Space, Personnel
3.15.3.2 Variable Costs: Carrier Payments, Documentation, Customs Fees
3.15.3.3 Technology Investment Requirements
3.15.3.4 Economies of Scale Dynamics
3.16 ESG Risk Assessment for Freight Forwarders
3.16.1 Transition Risk
3.16.2 Reputation Risk
3.16.3 Regulatory Risk
3.16.4 Physical Climate Risk
3.17 Working Capital and Financing Needs Analysis
3.17.1 Freight Forwarder Financial Profile
3.17.2
3.16.2 Financing Needs by Company Size
3.17.3 Specific Financing Products
3.18 Trade Finance Implications and Strategic Recommendations
3.18.1 Freight Forwarding Sector Attractiveness for Trade Finance
3.18.2 Working Capital and Financing Needs Analysis
3.18.2.1 Freight Forwarder Financial Profile
3.18.2.2 Financing Needs by Company Size
3.18.2.3 Specific Financing Products Needed
3.18.3 Credit Risk Assessment Framework
3.18.3.1 Short-Term Actions
3.18.3.2 Medium-Term Strategy
3.18.3.3 Long-Term Vision
3.19 Global Trade Flow Analysis & Corridor Mapping
3.19.1.1 Global Import Analysis & Major Destinations
3.19.1.2 Global Export Analysis & Origin Markets
3.19.1.3 Major Trade Routes & Freight Volumes
Chapter 4 Competitive Landscape, 2024
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Company market share analysis
4.2.1 North America
4.2.2 Europe
4.2.3 Asia Pacific
4.2.3.1 DHL
4.2.3.2 Kuehne + Nagel
4.2.3.3 DSV
4.2.3.4 DB Schenker
4.2.3.5 C.H. Robinson Worldwide
4.2.3.6 Nippon Express
4.2.3.7 XPO Logistics
4.3 Competitive analysis of major market players
4.4 Competitive positioning matrix
4.5 Strategy dashboard
4.6 Key Developments
4.6.1 Mergers & Acquisitions
4.6.2 Partnerships & Collaborations
4.6.3 New Product Launches
4.6.4 Expansion Plans and Funding
Chapter 5 Freight Forwarding Market, By Mode of Transportation
5.1 Key trends
5.2 Ocean
5.3 Air
5.4 Road
5.5 Rail
Chapter 6 Freight Forwarding Market, By Customer
6.1 Key trends
6.2 B2B
6.3 B2C
Chapter 7 Freight Forwarding Market, By Service
7.1 Key trends
7.2 Transportation & Warehousing
7.3 Value-Added Services
7.3.1 Packaging
7.3.2 Labeling
7.3.3 Assembly
7.3.4 Kitting
7.3.5 Inspection
7.3.6 Returns
7.4 Others
Chapter 8 Freight Forwarding Market, By End Use
8.1 Key trends
8.2 Manufacturing
8.3 Retail
8.4 Healthcare
8.5 Oil and Gas
8.6 Food and Beverages
8.7 Others
Chapter 9 Freight Forwarding Market, By Region
9.1 Key trends
9.2 North America
9.2.1 US
9.2.2 Canada
9.3 Europe
9.3.1 United Kingdom
9.3.2 Germany
9.3.3 France
9.3.4 Italy
9.3.5 Spain
9.3.6 Nordic Countries
9.4 Asia Pacific
9.4.1 China
9.4.2 India
9.4.3 Japan
9.4.4 Australia
9.4.5 South Korea
9.4.6 Southeast Asia
9.4.6.1 Indonesia
9.4.6.2 Malaysia
9.4.6.3 Myanmar
9.4.6.4 Philippines
9.4.6.5 Singapore
9.4.6.6 Thailand
9.4.6.7 Vietnam
Chapter 10 Company Profiles
10.1 C.H. Robinson
10.1.1 Company overview
10.1.2 Operating segment overview
10.1.3 Financial data
10.1.4 Product landscape
10.1.5 Strategic outlook
10.1.6 SWOT Analysis
10.2 CEVA Logistics
10.2.1 Company overview
10.2.2 Operating segment overview
10.2.3 Financial data
10.2.4 Product landscape
10.2.5 Strategic outlook
10.2.6 SWOT Analysis
10.3 DB Schenker
10.3.1 Company overview
10.3.2 Operating segment overview
10.3.3 Financial data
10.3.4 Product landscape
10.3.5 Strategic outlook
10.3.6 SWOT Analysis
10.4 DHL
10.4.1 Company overview
10.4.2 Operating segment overview
10.4.3 Financial data
10.4.4 Product landscape
10.4.5 Strategic outlook
10.4.6 SWOT Analysis
10.5 DSV
10.5.1 Market/Business Overview
10.5.2 Operating Segment Overview
10.5.3 Financial data
10.5.4 Product landscape
10.5.5 Strategic outlook
10.5.6 SWOT Analysis
10.6 Descartes Systems Group
10.6.1 Company overview
10.6.2 Operating segment overview
10.6.2.1 Financial data
10.6.3 Product landscape
10.6.4 Strategic outlook
10.6.5 SWOT Analysis
10.7 GEODIS
10.7.1 Company overview
10.7.2 Operating segment overview
10.7.3 Financial data
10.7.4 Product landscape
10.7.5 Strategic outlook
10.7.6 SWOT Analysis
10.8 Kuehne + Nagel International AG
10.8.1 Company overview
10.8.2 Operating segment overview
10.8.3 Financial data
10.8.4 Product landscape
10.8.5 Strategic outlook
10.8.6 SWOT Analysis
10.9 A.P. Møller - Mærsk
10.9.1 Company overview
10.9.2 Operating segment overview
10.9.3 Financial data
10.9.4 Product landscape
10.9.5 Strategic outlook
10.9.6 SWOT Analysis
10.10 cargo-partner
10.10.1 Company overview
10.10.2 Operating segment overview
10.10.3 Financial data
10.10.4 Product landscape
10.10.5 Strategic outlook
10.10.6 SWOT Analysis
10.11 DACHSER SE & Co. KG
10.11.1 Company overview
10.11.2 Operating segment overview
10.11.3 Financial data
10.11.4 Product landscape
10.11.5 Strategic outlook
10.11.6 SWOT Analysis
10.12 Gebrüder Weiss
10.12.1 Company overview
10.12.2 Operating segment overview
10.12.3 Financial data
10.12.4 Product landscape
10.12.5 Strategic outlook
10.12.6 SWOT Analysis
10.13 Hellmann
10.13.1 Company overview
10.13.2 Operating segment overview
10.13.3 Financial data
10.13.4 Product landscape
10.13.5 Strategic outlook
10.13.6 SWOT Analysis
10.14 Kerry Logistics
10.14.1 Company overview
10.14.2 Operating segment overview
10.14.3 Financial data
10.14.4 Product landscape
10.14.5 Strategic outlook
10.14.6 SWOT Analysis
10.15 Logwin Logistics
10.15.1 Company overview
10.15.2 Operating segment overview
10.15.3 Financial data
10.15.4 Product landscape
10.15.5 Strategic outlook
10.15.6 SWOT Analysis
10.16 Raben Group
10.16.1 Company overview
10.16.2 Operating segment overview
10.16.3 Financial data
10.16.4 Product landscape
10.16.5 Strategic outlook
10.16.6 SWOT Analysis
10.17 Rhenus Group
10.17.1 Company overview
10.17.2 Operating segment overview
10.17.3 Financial data
10.17.4 Product landscape
10.17.5 Strategic outlook
10.17.6 SWOT Analysis
10.18 Savino Del Bene
10.18.1 Company overview
10.18.2 Operating segment overview
10.18.3 Financial data
10.18.4 Product landscape
10.18.5 Strategic outlook
10.18.6 SWOT Analysis
10.19 Scan Global Logistics
10.19.1 Company overview
10.19.2 Financial data
10.19.3 Product landscape
10.19.4 Strategic outlook
10.19.5 SWOT Analysis
10.20 FMS Logistics
10.20.1 Company overview
10.20.2 Operating segment overview
10.20.3 Financial data
10.20.4 Product landscape
10.20.5 Strategic outlook
10.20.6 SWOT Analysis
10.21 Van Donge & de Roo
10.21.1 Company overview
10.21.2 Operating segment overview
10.21.3 Financial data
10.21.4 Product landscape
10.21.5 Strategic outlook
10.21.6 SWOT Analysis
10.22 CLASQUIN
10.22.1 Company overview
10.22.2 Operating segment overview
10.22.3 Financial data
10.22.4 Product landscape
10.22.5 Strategic outlook
10.22.6 SWOT Analysis

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