Record of 420 Million Shipments to Private Individuals Expected

The courier, express, and parcel industry (KEP) recorded significant growth in the first half of 2020. The shipment volume increased by 7.4% during this period. Parcel shipments rose by a substantial 8.9%, while express and courier shipments decreased by 0.5%.

(Berlin) – This is the result of the market analysis conducted by KE-CONSULT Kurte&Esser GbR on behalf of the Parcel Association BIEK. This means that, on average, over 800,000 more shipments are transported daily compared to the previous year. There were particularly strong increases in B2C shipments, while B2B shipments saw a significant decline of 7.6% compared to the previous year. Both developments are attributed to the Corona crisis. “The sudden growth in shipment volumes during the Corona pandemic highlights how essential parcel services are for the population and the economy. During the crisis – especially during the lockdown – they ensure the supply of goods to the people,” says Marten Bosselmann, Chairman of BIEK.

Corona-related Doubling of Increases

In this year’s Christmas season (November and December), the Parcel Association expects a Corona-related doubling of increases (15% – 20%) in parcel shipments for private households (B2C shipments) compared to 2019. Deliveries to end customers are expected to rise by up to 60 million shipments to nearly 420 million B2C shipments compared to the previous year. At peak times, up to 21 million shipments are expected to be transported in a single day across the companies’ networks. To handle this shipment volume, approximately 30,000 additional workers will be employed by the companies this Christmas season. “The employees of the parcel services have been doing extraordinary work for months, ensuring that private individuals and businesses receive their shipments on time and reliably – even during the Christmas season, they can be counted on. They deserve recognition and thanks for this!” says Marten Bosselmann.Considering the developments so far this year, more than 3.9 billion shipments and a revenue increase to over 23 billion euros are expected for the entire year 2020, according to another result of the KE-CONSULT analysis. The exact and detailed results of the KEP market will be presented to the public again next May in the KEP Study 2021 by the Federal Association of Parcel and Express Logistics.

About the Federal Association of Parcel and Express Logistics (BIEK)

The Federal Association of Parcel and Express Logistics (BIEK), founded in 1982, is the political representation of leading providers of courier, express, and parcel services in Germany. Through the nationwide parcel services DPD, GLS, GO!, Hermes, and UPS, BIEK represents approximately 3,500 other small and medium-sized logistics companies. The member companies offer their customers comprehensive delivery from the Hallig to the Alm. The industry currently generates annual revenues of 21.3 billion euros, employs around 250,000 people, and transports more than 3.65 billion shipments per year.www.biek.deImage: © Manager Magazin