30.09.2024
Polish transport is a European power
The Polish road transport sector is a European power. According to the data of the Polish Economic Institute, it is responsible for 6% of the national GDP and about 20% of transport performance in the European Union.
On the forwarding market, we are strengthening our position at the forefront of the continent. The “Global freight forwarding 2024 market report” placed Poland in 10th place among European freight forwarding markets.
Transport in the East and Forwarding in the West
The aforementioned publication by Transport Intelligence summarized the global freight forwarding market in 2023. Its leader on a European scale was Germany, which last year controlled as much as one fifth of the sector. In second place with a 10% share was France, and in third place was taken by Italy. Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark also ranked high in the ranking. Therefore, we can talk about the division of the European industry into two sectors – the transport sector in the east and the forwarding in the west.
– Despite this division, transport and forwarding are interconnected, the success of which depends on identical factors. The crisis in the transport market, which we have been observing for several months, has naturally also affected freight forwarding. According to the “Global freight forwarding 2024 market report”, in 2023 the European freight forwarding market shrank by 2.3%, recording a value of EUR 57.3 billion. The economic slowdown, which was felt especially by the local leader of the sector, i.e. Germany, is also responsible for this state of affairs, which was also a large extent – comments Jakub Gwiazdowski, Head of Partnership & Relation at Transcash.eu.
A fall in optimism among Polish freight forwarders
The downward trend, which dominated especially the first months of 2024, is confirmed by the results of a survey conducted by Transcash. In March this year, we surveyed the moods among employees of Polish forwarding companies. Nearly 70% of respondents admitted that their company’s situation has deteriorated over the past 12 months, and only 9% have felt an improvement. When asked about the factors that had the greatest impact on the condition of the transport market, the respondents put the geopolitical situation and the reduction in global production at the top of the list (50% of the answers in the multiple-choice question). In third place, with a result of 45.5%, was – an increase in road tolls.
Transcash asked those declaring the deterioration of the situation of their company about the reasons for this state of affairs as part of a multiple-choice question. The most important ones included undercutting rates by competitors (63.6%) and an increase in the costs of doing business (61.6%). Half of the respondents indicated a decrease in the number of orders, and 40% – a decrease in the size of margins.
Shippers on the rise
However, the forecasts for 2024 are optimistic and assume an improvement in the situation in Poland as well. According to the report’s estimates, the growth leaders in the sector will be Ukraine, Turkey, Denmark, Serbia and Poland. The Polish freight forwarding market is expected to grow by about 6% at the end of 2024. This upward trend should continue at least until 2028, with its scale likely to decrease to about 2% per year during this period.
Will this actually happen? There is moderate optimism in the industry.
“The fourth quarter of the year is approaching, which is usually a period of growth for the industry serving the Christmas peak. Inflation forecasts, predicting a relatively small increase in 2025, also give hope for an improvement in the coming months. Therefore, a softening of the monetary policy and a reduction in interest rates, expected by many, including entrepreneurs from the TSL industry, seem realistic,” says Jakub Gwiazdowski from Transcash.eu.
What the future holds
The work of freight forwarders is important for the proper functioning of the entire transport industry, and in the light of the challenges ahead, the role of transport organizers will increase. The war in Ukraine and terrorist attacks on the Red Sea have shown how much the socio-political situation affects the transport market. In such situations, the role of freight forwarders is to adapt transport plans to dynamically changing conditions to guarantee the execution of orders. The scale of hacker attacks threatening transport infrastructure is also growing, in the case of which the ability to react quickly on the part of the freight forwarder can be invaluable.
On the European market, freight forwarders must also take into account European Union legislation, including the Mobility Package and the Fit for 55 program.
“The tightening of the rules of forwarding activities on the continent means that freight forwarders must also ensure that the transport process does not raise formal objections. In terms of reducing emissions, the challenge In the coming years will be the organization of transport adapted not only to the ranges of electric trucks, but also to the conditions of the charging infrastructure on the route. The scale of transport activity of Polish carriers in Europe leaves no doubt that professional forwarding services will remain invaluable for maintaining their position on the continent,” said Jakub Gwiazdowski.
Source: TC Law Firm
- Everything
- News (210)
- Events (124)
- Get Support (80)
-
JAR AROMATY SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCIĄ
JAR Aromaty is a family-owned company with over 45 years of passion for flavour. We offer fruity and sweet flavours in liquid and powder form for many food sectors: – confectionery, bakery – dairy (including ice cream) – supplements – sport nutrition – instant products JAR strengths: high-quality products, flexibility, competitive pricing, short lead time, low MOQ. JAR is certified with FSSC 22000.
FORCE GROUP POLAND SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCIĄ
Other goodsShow allTask Force is a translation agency with offices in Kyiv, Warsaw, and the USA, offering comprehensive translation services, including written and oral translations, localization, subtitling, and sworn translations. Our team consists of over 1,000 professional linguists and 30+ partners in 15 countries, ensuring high quality and timely project delivery. We are certified according to ISO 17100 standards, which guarantees exceptional quality.
EventMEBLE POLSKA Fair Poland 2025
The largest furniture contracting fair in Central and Eastern Europe
EMPETS Group
EMPETS Group is a Polish manufacturer of pet beds and accessories, as well as premium cat furniture — the Hoppa modular cat tree system.
-
Article
Foreign investments of Polish capital in 2023
Foreign investments of Polish capital reflect the need to diversify markets
ArticleForeigners on the Polish labour market
Since 2012, the number of foreigners on the Polish labour market has increased twelve fold
-
Institution
National Support Centre for Agriculture
The National Centre for Agricultural Support conducts promotional and informational activities aimed…
InstitutionPolish-Romanian Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PRBCC)
The Polish-Romanian Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an independent organization that a…
The Export Promotion Portal uses cookies to make it easier for users to use the website and for statistical purposes. If you do not block these files, you agree to their use and saving in the memory of your computer or other device. Remember that you can change your browser settings to block the storage of cookies. More information can be found in Privacy Policy and Terms and conditions.