The courier, specific, and parcel sector in Germany, referred to as KEP for brief, confronted turbulent occasions in 2022. There have been 360 million fewer packages delivered than within the peak 12 months of 2021. This interprets to a 7.9 % decline in package deal quantity in Germany.
In complete, 4.15 billion shipments have been delivered final 12 months within the non-public and enterprise markets, as reported by the German Parcel and Categorical Logistics Affiliation (BIEK) in its KEP Examine 2023. The sector’s income additionally declined, however not as a lot because the package deal quantity. The whole earnings reached round 26 billion euros final 12 months, a 3.5 % lower in comparison with 2021.
The decline in shipments could be attributed to the tip of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a major lower in shopper willingness to spend and a shift from on-line to offline retail gross sales.
B2C versus B2B
The sector then skilled a decline, significantly within the shopper market: B2C package deal quantity decreased by 11 % final 12 months, whereas the enterprise package deal market noticed a 4 % decline in quantity. Because the 12 months progressed, the volumes grew to become extra promising.
Regardless of the latest downturn, BIEK chairman Marten Bosselmann sees a brilliant future, referring to the truth that final 12 months’s parcel quantity was 14 % increased than pre-corona.
‘The long-term development pattern of the KEP market continues.’
“On the similar time”, Bosselmann added in a press launch, “the business is adapting to the persevering with turbulent normal climate scenario and mastering the challenges that the economic system and society as an entire need to face. Regardless of all of the imponderables, one thing stays secure along with the fixed efficiency of the KEP professionals: their significance as a job engine and employer who presents views.”
Jobs in Germany
Final 12 months, the sector employed 257,800 folks instantly in Germany, 3 % fewer than in 2021. However, the employment degree remained above the pre-corona degree, with an extra 13,200 staff. Not directly, the KEP business is alleged to assist almost 570,000 jobs in Germany.
The sector employed 257,800 folks instantly in 2022
Renewed development
Trying forward, the expansion of the KEP market in 2023 is unsure as a consequence of elements comparable to excessive inflation, the continued conflict in Ukraine, and provide chain points. Nevertheless, financial forecasts counsel a gradual restoration, particularly within the second half of the 12 months, which might result in renewed development. Within the medium time period, common annual cargo quantity development of three.3 % could be anticipated, in response to BIEK, to succeed in just below 4.9 billion shipments by 2027.