Freight Forwarding Market

• CEVA Logistics (France) completed the $383 million acquisition of Borusan Tedarik, the logistics operations entity of Borusan Lojistik (Turkey). The deal expanded CEVA’s domestic logistics and freight forwarding capabilities in Turkey, strengthening its road, air, and ocean transport network and positioning the country as one of its largest revenue markets. (November, 2025)
• C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (United States) launched the Agentic Supply Chain, an AI-driven logistics ecosystem designed to automate and optimize freight operations. The platform used connected AI agents to manage shipment planning, pricing, tracking, and routing, improving supply chain visibility, speed, and decision-making for global freight forwarding operations. (October, 2025)

• DSV A/S (Denmark) completed the €14.3 billion acquisition of DB Schenker (Germany) from Deutsche Bahn AG (Germany). The deal doubled DSV’s size and significantly expanded its global freight forwarding network, creating one of the world’s largest transport and logistics providers operating in more than 90 countries (April, 2025)

Drivers Geopolitical Disruptions Forcing Rerouting and Cost Pressures

One of the strongest drivers of freight forwarding demand in early 2026 has been geopolitical disruptions reshaping global transport networks. The ongoing Middle East conflict has forced major carriers to reroute cargo flows, with air freight rates from South Asia to Europe spiking as much as 70 % due to airspace closures and fuel surcharges, according to recent data. The disruption of key hubs like Dubai and Doha has reduced available airlift capacity and increased reliance on alternative routing, prompting forwarders to leverage global networks to mitigate delays. Carriers such as A.P. Moller Maersk A/S and Mediterranean Shipping Company have adjusted schedules and introduced emergency surcharges to protect service continuity. These market shocks have driven shippers to engage experienced forwarders who can dynamically replan routes, negotiate capacity, and manage costs under volatile conditions, highlighting freight forwarders’ critical role in sustaining cross‑border supply chains.

Opportunities: Digital and AI Adoption for Operational Efficiency

A significant opportunity in the freight forwarding market in 2026 is the widespread adoption of digital platforms and AI to improve efficiency and competitiveness. Forwarders increasingly integrate AI‑enabled tools to automate pricing, routing, and tracking, reducing manual processes that traditionally slowed operations. For example, more than 60 % of logistics firms reported adopting digital freight matching platforms that cut manual errors by over 70 % and streamline load matching across carriers and shippers. Leading forwarders like C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. and Freightos Group use AI algorithms to predict capacity constraints and optimize lanes, enabling customers to secure favorable rates more quickly. Governments are also supporting digital trade facilitation; for instance, many customs agencies now accept electronic documentation to accelerate clearance and reduce dwell times. These technology‑driven efficiencies offer forwarders a chance to differentiate service quality, lower costs, and attract clients seeking resilient, data‑enabled supply chain partners.

Challenges Infrastructure Bottlenecks and Capacity Constraints

Despite strong demand, freight forwarders in 2026 confront persistent infrastructure bottlenecks and capacity constraints that strain service reliability. Ports in Africa and the Indian Ocean region, such as those in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, are experiencing berthing delays of up to 9 days due to equipment shortages and congestion, limiting throughput and complicating scheduling for forwarders. At the same time, inland transport networks—especially trucking and rail links—are unable to keep pace with cargo flows, contributing to slower turnarounds and higher costs for ground distribution across key markets. In the United States, policy shifts such as ending de minimis exemptions have disrupted parcel flows into the country, pressuring air freight capacity and backward pressure on forwarding networks. These bottlenecks undermine forwarders’ ability to guarantee transit times, forcing them to invest in alternative routing strategies, diversify carrier partners, and often absorb higher fees, all while balancing service quality and profitability in a congested logistics landscape.

The global freight forwarding market is a well-established and rapidly evolving segment of the broader logistics and supply chain industry, focused on organizing, coordinating, and managing the transport of goods across domestic and international networks. The market was valued at USD 225.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 284.8 billion by 2030, registering a steady CAGR of 4.8 %, driven by expanding global trade, growth in cross-border e-commerce, and increasing complexity of supply chains requiring professional forwarding services. Growth is supported by rising demand for ocean freight, air freight, road and rail transport, customs brokerage, and value-added logistics services such as warehousing and cargo consolidation. Demand is strongest across manufacturing industries, retail and e-commerce companies, automotive and industrial firms, and pharmaceutical and consumer goods exporters. Advancements in digital freight platforms, AI-enabled routing, and IoT-based cargo tracking are further strengthening operational efficiency, shipment visibility, and supply chain resilience in modern logistics networks.