Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokers in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The freight forwarding and customs brokerage industry in the European Union serves as the critical backbone for international trade, managing the logistics, transport organization, and customs clearance of goods entering, leaving, or moving within the single market. The sector is heavily influenced by EU-wide customs modernization and shifting global trade corridors, which demand increased digitization and compliance. According to Eurostat, the broader 'Transportation and Storage' sector, under which these services are classified, generated an annual turnover of approximately €1.15 trillion in 2022 (Eurostat), reflecting the massive scale of logistical operations driving the European economy

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

Get in touch and our analysts will be happy to help with custom market sizing, deeper segmentation, supplier detail or a bespoke study built for you.

What does the Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokers in European Union industry cover?

This industry encompasses enterprises engaged in organizing transport operations on behalf of shippers, alongside specialized customs brokers who facilitate the clearance of goods through customs authorities. These operators act as intermediaries, coordinating road, rail, air, and sea freight while ensuring compliance with complex international trade laws. Their services are essential for navigating the outer borders of the EU single market and managing transit procedures.

• •Covers freight brokerage, consolidation of shipments, and preparation of shipping documentation.
• •Includes customs clearance services, calculation and payment of duties/VAT, and representation before customs authorities.
• •Operates under NACE Rev. 2 classification, specifically mapping to transport support activities.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European market is highly diverse, consisting of a few massive multinational logistics providers operating alongside thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that offer localized or specialized corridor expertise. The market structure is highly integrated with major European transport hubs such as the Ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, and Hamburg, as well as cargo airports like Frankfurt and Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Operators often hold specialized authorizations to streamline their customs workflows.

• •Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) status is a key differentiator, with thousands of EU operators holding AEO-C (Customs Simplifications) or AEO-S (Security and Safety) status as of 2025.
• •SMEs dominate the local brokerage landscape, relying on deep knowledge of national customs administrations.
• •Major hubs in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium handle the highest volume of customs declarations in the Union.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand in this sector is fundamentally driven by the volume of extra-EU import and export trade, as well as the complexity of regional regulatory frameworks. Industrial manufacturing, automotive supply chains, and consumer e-commerce imports from Asia and North America require highly reliable forwarding and brokerage services. Additionally, geopolitical shifts and new trade agreements continuously reshape supply chains, requiring brokers to constantly adapt tariff classifications.

• •Extra-EU trade volumes drive the baseline demand for customs declarations and specialized brokerage services.
• •The rapid growth of cross-border B2C e-commerce has exponentially increased the volume of low-value customs declarations.
• •Strict environmental standards and supply chain transparency mandates compel shippers to seek forwarders with green logistics capabilities.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive landscape features intense rivalry among global logistics giants that possess extensive European networks and sophisticated, proprietary digital customs interfaces. These major players compete on the basis of transit times, end-to-end visibility, regulatory compliance track records, and digital integration capabilities. To maintain market share, many of these companies have acquired specialized local customs brokers to deepen their regional presence.

• •DHL Group (Deutsche Post AG), headquartered in Germany, operates one of the largest forwarding and customs clearance networks in Europe.
• •DSV A/S, based in Denmark, is a dominant global freight forwarder with highly consolidated European road and air/sea operations.
• •Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Swiss-based but deeply integrated across the EU, is a market leader in seafreight and airfreight forwarding.
• •Schenker AG (DB Schenker), historically a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn, remains a major European forwarding powerhouse.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry is undergoing a profound digital transformation, accelerated by the phased implementation of the EU Customs Union's multi-annual IT initiatives. Forwarders are heavily investing in automation, AI-driven tariff classification tools, and direct API integrations with national customs authorities to reduce processing times and human error. Additionally, geopolitical volatility has forced operators to offer more resilient, multi-modal routing options to bypass disrupted corridors.

• •Automation of standard import declarations is rapidly rising to cope with the sheer volume of e-commerce shipments.
• •Decarbonization of logistics is transitioning from a corporate social responsibility goal to a strict customer requirement, tracking Scope 3 emissions.
• •There is an increasing consolidation trend where larger logistics groups acquire niche customs brokers to secure scarce compliance expertise.

How is the industry regulated?

Compliance is the core operational risk and value proposition for customs brokers in the EU, governed strictly by the Union Customs Code (UCC). The regulatory landscape is characterized by constant updates aimed at digitizing customs procedures and harmonizing controls across all Member States. Operators must navigate strict rules regarding product safety, environmental levies, and complex origin determinations.

• •Governed primarily by Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 laying down the Union Customs Code (UCC).
• •The phased rollout of the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) mandates detailed pre-arrival safety and security data for all goods entering the EU.
• •The transitional phase of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requires forwarders and importers to meticulously track and report the embedded emissions of specific imported goods.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Eurostat Structural Business Statistics 2022 ·
• European Commission Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD) ·
• Union Customs Code (Regulation (EU) No 952/2013) ·
• European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT)