Supply Chain Management Services in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The Supply Chain Management Services industry in the European Union comprises freight forwarding, contract logistics, and storage activities that handle the intra-communal and international movement of goods. The industry operates within a volatile macroeconomic landscape, characterized by a transition toward green transport modes and the optimization of supply routes to counteract global disruption. According to official Eurostat figures, total road freight transport in the EU reached 13,075 million tonnes in 2024 (Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics), indicating a slight structural consolidation of cargo volumes across member states. The overall direction focuses heavily on automati

Industry snapshot

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What does the Supply Chain Management Services in European Union industry cover?

The supply chain management services industry encompasses the planning, execution, and control of transport, storage, and logistical workflows across the single market. It integrates third-party logistics (3PL), multi-modal freight transport systems, and contract warehouse operations designed to streamline the flow of industrial inputs and retail consumer goods. These activities support the structural connectivity of regional production ecosystems.

• •Encompasses both domestic intra-EU trade flows and extra-EU international freight handling.
• •Includes specialized storage, inventory management, customs brokerage, and multi-modal freight forwarding.
• •Monitored under unified EU-wide statistical reporting metrics for national and international cabotage performance.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European market is structurally anchored by several prominent Member State territories that serve as critical transit hubs and logistical centers. Activity is largely clustered around major transport corridors, deep-water maritime ports, and industrial manufacturing regions. National networks heavily support internal distribution, while cross-trade and international cabotage accommodate regional interdependence.

• •Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Italy together accounted for almost two-thirds of the total tonnage transported by road in the EU in 2024 (Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics).
• •National transport loops constituted approximately 61.4% of total EU road freight performance in 2024 (Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics).
• •International transport and cross-border movements represented nearly one-quarter or 24.6% of the EU total in 2024 (Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics).

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand for supply chain management services is primary dictated by industrial manufacturing outputs, agricultural production, and food retail volumes. Additionally, corporate initiatives targeting supply chain diversification and reshoring of sensitive product categories drive the reconfiguration of logistics networks. Warehousing demand is further influenced by the balance of energy availability and grid capacity limitations across key logistics hubs.

• •Food products, beverages, and tobacco led road freight transport demand by volume, totaling 312.2 billion tonne-kilometres in 2024 (Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics).
• •Metal ores and other mining products constituted the single largest product group by absolute tonnage, reaching 3,007 million tonnes in 2024 (Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics).
• •EU policies prioritizing structural diversification have highlighted 137 highly import-dependent products where resilient supply chains are critically mandated (European Commission Policy Mapping).

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive landscape features a mixture of large multinational operators with comprehensive pan-European networks and thousands of localized freight specialists. Top-tier logistics providers compete based on network density, technological automation, and their ability to provide end-to-end multi-modal supply chains. Companies are actively investing in facility efficiency and alternative fuel capabilities to maintain corporate contract volumes.

• •DHL Group (Deutsche Post AG) acts as a leading provider of express courier and global forwarding services across the EU.
• •DSV A/S operates extensive European contract logistics and road freight forwarding networks out of its Denmark headquarters.
• •Kuehne + Nagel International AG manages significant European sea, air, and contract logistics operations.
• •DB Schenker (Deutsche Bahn AG) provides foundational rail, air, and land transport services throughout core European corridors.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

Recent trends reveal a pronounced shift toward modernizing older logistics facilities to optimize energy efficiency and integrate automated fulfillment systems. Operator sentiment remains cautiously optimistic as commercial leasing and development pipelines shift toward committed, sustainable infrastructure. Operational strategies are increasingly focusing on pragmatism over pure capacity expansion due to electrical grid limitations.

• •Regional warehouse completions are expected to hit a consecutive nine-year low as speculative development remains tightly controlled (CBRE European Logistics Outlook 2026).
• •European prime logistics rental growth is projected to experience a structural moderation of approximately 1.8% in 2026 (CBRE European Logistics Outlook 2026).
• •Corporate emphasis is shifting significantly from baseline green building certifications to actionable, net-zero climate transition capital investments (CBRE European Logistics Outlook 2026).

How is the industry regulated?

The regulatory landscape in the European Union is heavily shaped by the European Green Deal and structural transition objectives. Operators must strictly align with decarbonization mandates, mandatory corporate sustainability reporting, and clean vehicle integration frameworks. Compliance frameworks enforce rigorous tracking of transportation emissions and specific freight transport modal shifts.

• •The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy targets a total of 30 million zero-emission cars in use across the Union by 2030 (European Green Deal Strategy).
• •Regulatory measures mandate minimum fast-charging infrastructural densities on core European routes by 2025 and 3.5 million public charging units by 2030 (EU alternative fuels infrastructure framework).
• •Transport policies focus directly on emissions mitigation to address the sector's approximate 25% share of total EU greenhouse gas emissions (Eurostat Transport Statistics).

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

• Eurostat Road Freight Transport Statistics 2024 ·
• Eurostat Transport Statistics at Regional Level 2025 ·
• CBRE European Logistics Outlook 2026 ·
• European Commission Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy Report ·
• Kommerskollegium Tools for Resilient Supply Chains Report 2025