The courier market - France

from 2020 onwards, the global courier market is expected to continue growing at a slightly slower pace, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%, compared with the robust 7.69% observed. The market was worth $330.3 billion worldwide. The French courier market mirrors this trend, but is growing at a slower pace, with a significant boost from e-commerce activities. Despite a competitive and saturated landscape, the French market is notably dominated by La Poste in terms of sales and geographical coverage. The COVID-19 pandemic had a notable impact on the sector, leading to operational changes and an increase in e-commerce traffic, which benefited smaller courier services. Nevertheless, the financial details of these market trends from 2020 onwards are not explicitly indicated in the text provided.

Trends in the French messaging market

In recent years, the French messaging market has been characterized by robust growth, fueled mainly by the flourishing e-commerce sector. The market has expanded at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 20-25%, illustrating consumers' increasing reliance on courier and delivery services for online purchases. With revenues rising from around €1 billion to €4 billion over this period, it's clear that this upward trajectory is a response to the digital shopping habits of the French population. A study of the French courier market showed that the majority of the population - some 85-90% - prefers home delivery services when shopping online. This preference for home delivery has forced courier companies to optimize their logistics capabilities to meet consumer expectations.

In addition, the report notes that the rise of e-commerce has led to a remarkable growth in the courier workforce of around 15-20%, from around 7,000 to almost 9,000 employees. The technological advent of drones has also generated interest, with almost 45-50% of survey participants citing drones as a favorable innovation in the delivery field. This futuristic mode of transport, if harnessed effectively, could potentially revolutionize the speed and efficiency of courier services.

However, the courier market has not been spared the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The inflexibility of supply chains in the face of a global crisis became evident when delays in online product deliveries rose sharply, from around 10-15% at the start of the pandemic to a staggering 55-60% thereafter. The disruption caused by the pandemic also suggested opportunities for small businesses and startups in the courier sector to adapt quickly to the unstable environment and meet growing demand.

Competitively, the French courier market is essentially dominated by La Poste, which not only controls a massive share of around 95% of market revenues, but also boasts an extensive geographical presence imposed by national legislation. The data clearly show that La Poste's formidable turnover of €25-30 billion largely eclipses that of its courier competitors.

In conclusion, the French courier market is characterized by strong demand for home delivery services, a move towards innovative technologies, a growing workforce and the dominant position of La Poste. Despite unforeseen challenges such as the COVID-19 crisis, the sector has demonstrated a great capacity for innovation.

the French courier market is a complex and constantly evolving landscape, made up of players of varying sizes and specialties.

• La Poste dominates this sphere by a remarkable margin. Its reach extends to every corner of France, keeping it firmly at the top of the sector. This public monolith is not only a leader in traditional mail services, it also has a strong presence in parcel delivery, benefiting greatly from burgeoning e-commerce trends.
• Chronopost is another major player in the French courier market. Although it operates as an independent brand and focuses on fast parcel services, its attachment to La Poste within the same company reinforces La Poste's supremacy in the market. Chronopost's extensive network is essential for B2B and B2C distribution, particularly for fast delivery requests.
• Couriier redefine the urban delivery landscape. Couriier brings a breath of fresh air to the market with scalable delivery solutions that leverage technology to optimize efficiency. The agility and ingenuity of these startups suggest a knock-on effect that could redefine the dynamics of the sector in years to come.
• Coursier.fr, which offers courier services tailored to customers' specific needs, completes the ranks of specialized players.

These companies often stand out for their ability to provide customized and immediate solutions for urban deliveries, highlighting flexibility and customer satisfaction as their key selling points. As the French courier market continues to navigate through digital transformations and regulatory changes, these key players each play distinct roles, ranging from the behemoth that controls the market to the dynamic, adaptable newcomers that challenge the status quo. Together, they create a dynamic and competitive environment that promises both challenges and opportunities in the race to deliver fast, reliable services across France.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 09/11/2022

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Revenue from courier delivery activities - World
• Repair costs and charges associated with NAF code 53.2
• Turnover index
• Cyclicity of the sector's revenues
• Breakdown of the means of transport used by the French Services-Courier-Colis branch of La Poste group
• Number of companies registered under NAF code 53.2
• Workforce registered under NAF code 53.20Z
• Delivery and courier revenues - France
• Evolution de l'indice de chiffre d'affaires entre 2019 et Juin 2022
• Volume d'objets adressés en France et à l'export
• Revenus des objets adressés distribués en France et à l'export
• Preference for parcel deliveries
• Main items purchased in e-commerce
• Does the drone seem to you to be a good option in the following cases?
• Delays in delivery of products purchased online during Covid-19 lockdown
• Market shares of the main players in value
• Top 5 de pénétration des sites de e-commerce