Summary

The European freight transport market, heavily dependent on road haulage, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a decline in business as evidenced by the 20.9-point drop in the road haulage sales index in France. Despite challenges including competitive pressures, regulatory constraints (such as high fuel taxes) and demands for cleaner transport solutions, the market is showing signs of recovery, with companies such as XPO Logistics pointing to a rebound in logistics business to 2019 levels or more in 2021.

However, the air and river transport segments continued to struggle against the crisis. Stimulated by e-commerce growth, which saw a CAGR of 13.5%, the market is adapting by increasing innovation in local delivery and last-mile logistics. In addition, digital platforms and a commitment to eco-friendly solutions indicate a move towards more sustainable and optimized transport models.

Trends and demand analysis in the French freight market

The French freight market was growing until the arrival of the global pandemic, which notably disrupted the activities of market players. The market is dominated by road haulage, with a significant share of 89%. The sector is marked by fierce competition, with a small fraction of companies generating a large proportion of the sector's revenues. These companies are under constant pressure to innovate, particularly in urban transport, and must adapt to the growth of e-commerce, set up collection points and explore cleaner transport solutions within cities.

A notable trend is emerging in demand for the different types of goods transported across France. Domestic freight plays a major role, accounting for between 350 and 360 billion tonne-kilometres. International freight accounts for 37% of this figure. Manufactured goods are at the forefront of transport demand, accounting for around a third of total goods transported, measured in tonne-kilometres.

The local delivery aspect of freight transport is undergoing major change, with a 15.5% jump in sales, driven by changes in consumer behavior, with an emphasis on online shopping and home delivery. The rise of e-commerce is reshaping the sector, with an average annual growth rate of around 10.5%. Parcel delivery services, which act as the link between digital marketplaces and customers, should see their delivery volumes increase in the coming years.

Road freight transport remains the dominant mode, although the market has seen a shift, with some tonne-kilometres down by around 2.1%, particularly in short-haul transport. Interestingly, while activity in tonne-kilometres has fallen, sales in the road haulage sector have risen by around 15.5%, testifying to the resilience and adaptability of this segment.

Other forms of transport, such as river and rail, account for just 9% of the overall volume of goods transported in France, underlining the difficulties these modes face in establishing themselves in a significant way. Rail freight has suffered setbacks due to profitability problems, while river transport, despite advantageous conditions in France - with abundant waterways - has yet to fully exploit its potential.

However, ecological initiatives and economic incentives seem to be giving a boost to these alternative modes of transport, which are enjoying a steady revival. In summary, despite the disruption caused by freight transport, the key players in the freight transport market are as follows.

The freight transport market is a dynamic, multi-faceted sector, characterized by a mix of large global companies and specialized businesses responding to unique market needs. The dynamics of this sector are shaped by the services provided, geographical coverage and innovative approaches to logistics and customer satisfaction. Let's take a look at some of the key players who define the contours of this market.

  • UPS (United Parcel Service) A global giant in parcel delivery and supply chain management, UPS is nothing if not a household name. More than just its ubiquitous fleet of brown trucks and planes, UPS has evolved into a full-service logistics provider, offering solutions ranging from freight forwarding to customs brokerage.
  • FedEx is another iconic brand synonymous with express delivery and a pillar of global logistics. With a fleet of cargo planes and ground vehicles, FedEx has consolidated its status by focusing on speed, reliability and an extensive network that reaches to the ends of the earth.
  • XPO A relative newcomer to the scene, but far from a lightweight, XPO Logistics has rapidly risen through the ranks to become a major market player. XPO Logistics stands out for its agile approach to freight services, use of cutting-edge technologies and commitment to sustainable development, which have earned it a place among the top logistics companies.
  • STEF In Europe, the STEF name resonates strongly, particularly in the context of temperature-controlled logistics. Catering to the food and perishables sectors, STEF's network is strategically positioned to offer freshness and punctuality, and is an example of niche specialization within a wider market.
  • Martin-Brower France Martin-Brower France stands out for a range of services that streamline operations for fast-food chains and restaurants throughout the country. Martin-Brower France's expertise is based on the unique requirements of the foodservice industry, offering resilience and reliability to its customers.
  • Fret SNCF A division of France's national railway company, SNCF Freight keeps the wheels of commerce turning via the rail network. SNCF Freight is a testament to the operational shift many companies are seeking to make - away from road transport to more sustainable and environmentally friendly rail solutions.
  • DHL Express With its yellow and red signature, DHL Express is omnipresent on the international logistics scene. DHL's service portfolio spans the entire logistics value chain, from express to forwarding.
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  • Number of pages : 30 pages
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  • Last update : 21/02/2023
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Market definition and presentation

Freight transport can be defined as the movement, from one point to another, of goods of any kind, whether by land, sea or air.

The European freight transport market has been growing in recent years: over the period 2016-2028, it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.57%.

In France, the transport market was also growing until the arrival of the global pandemic, which took its toll on all market players. The bulk of business is captured by road haulage companies (89% in 2021), which benefit from greater flexibility than rail, sea and air transport. Yet the sector is highly competitive, with a minority of companies accounting for a large proportion of sales.

These companies are also under increasing pressure to evolve, particularly with regard to their local transport activities. The development of e-commerce, points of collection and the search for clean goods transport solutions within cities could definitively metamorphose the business.

There are also regulatory constraints, with fuel taxes remaining high and squeezing company margins.

The trend is therefore towards cleaner, more optimized solutions. The various forms of LTL(Less than Truckload, which means that the truck is not fully loaded, or is sometimes made up of several loads of different types) are growing fast, as they enable flows to be optimized, and river transport should continue to grow in the years to come, particularly in France.

1.2 The European market benefits from globalization

In ****, road freight traffic will be dominated (***) by five countries: Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland. Poland leads the way with a **.*% market share, while France is in fourth place, according to L'antenne, with a *% share.

Distribution of freight transport sales by mode of transport European Union, ****, in billions of euros ...

1.3 A fast-growing national market

It is possible to estimate the size of the freight transport market at around *** billion euros for the year **** according to Transport Achat, which uses figures from the French Ministry of Ecological Transition for ****.

The sector's growth is relatively sustained, exceeding *.*% on average every year since ****.

In France, most goods are ...

1.4 The effects of Covid-19 on the freight transport market

The graph below was produced using data from NAF code **.** - "Road freight transport" .

Road freight transport sales index France, ****-****, Base *** in **** Source: ****

We note a decline in road freight transport activity overall, most likely due to the Covid-** pandemic. When comparing the month of May **** with that of ****, we ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Demand by type of goods transported

In ****, domestic freight transport accounted for *** billion tonne-kilometres (***), a unit of measurement corresponding to the transport of one tonne over a distance of one kilometer. Foreign-flagged road haulage accounts for around **% of this total. [***]

In terms of goods, manufactured products are the most frequently transported in France. They account for around ...

2.2 Local delivery is changing

The freight transport sector has evolved in recent years, notably with the rise of local delivery services, whose sales have increased by **.*% between **** and **** (***)

Sales indices for road freight transport France, **** - ****, base *** in **** Source: ****

Last-mile logistics have undergone many changes, with the multiplication of home delivery services and the rise ...

2.3 The growth of e-commerce

E-commerce represents themost active demand segment today. The business model of these digital companies is based on shipping parcels to consumers, with products stored in large warehouses. The health crisis has played a major role in the explosion of e-commerce. [***]

With average annual growth of **.*%, e-commerce players should continue to benefit ...

3 Market structure

3.1 Road haulage still dominates

In ****, road haulage under French and foreign flag in France remains largely dominant compared to other means of transport. Some *** billion tonne-kilometres (***).

French-flagged road freight transport France, **** - ****, billion tonne-kilometers Source: ****

Despite a decline in activity in terms of tonne-kilometres, the road freight sector is nevertheless experiencing relatively significant sales ...

3.2 Other modes of freight transport are experiencing difficulties

The transport of goods by river and rail represents only *% of the total volume of goods transported in France[***].

Even before the health crisis, the number of tons moving through French ports was declining (***).

evolution of French port activity France, **** - ****, thousands of tonnes Source: ****

This is corroborated by the fact ...

3.3 A competitive but highly concentrated sector

Transport companies

The freight transport sector is highly competitive, since almost all the companies operating in the sector are micro-businesses. In contrast, more than three-quarters of sales were generated by large companies and ETIs in **** (***)[***].

Some *,*** companies, organized as a grouping of several legal units, generate over **% of the sector's ...

3.4 Real-time transport monitoring, a new competitive market segment

Strong market competition and high external costs make customer loyalty a key competitive challenge. In addition to customer commitment, quality customer care significantly reduces after-sales service costs for companies in this market. In this context, real-time transport data collection has become a competitive advantage. A number of start-ups have specialized in ...

4 Offer analysis

4.1 Products and/or services

It is possible to distinguish the offer of road haulage companies, which account for some **% of freight transport activity in France, from the rest of the companies.

The road hauliers' offer can be focused on two aspects:

Local land transport; Intercity transport (***).

Source: ****

Some trucks can be adapted to carry specific ...

4.2 Road transport costs continue to rise

The price of transporting goods generally depends on the volume and weight of the goods, the distance of the journey, and the mode of transport used (***).

Despite the difference in prices between the various players in the sector, it is possible to determine that recent years have seen an increase in ...

4.3 Fuel price trends

Fuel costs are generally costs on which carriers prefer to make savings. They represent around **% of external costs for road haulage companies, and are not negligible for air and sea carriers[***].

After a gradual rise in prices between **** and ****, prices stabilized in ****-**** due to the health crisis. as a result ...

4.4 Digitalization, ecology and progress in river transport

To facilitate savings in the freight transport sector, new digital platforms are being set up to optimize transport. Timocom, for example, has created a freight exchange platform, which pools the freight transport demand of several companies with freight forwarding companies[***].

A number of initiatives are also underway to achieve energy savings ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Freight transport regulations

Providers of public road haulage services are obliged to charge prices that cover fuel costs, road expenses, tolls and vehicle depreciation[***].

Prices must be set according to :

The services provided by the carrier; Thelength of time the vehicle is immobilized during loading and unloading; The time required to transport the freight; Fuel ...

List of charts

  • Share of European countries participating in road freight traffic
  • Breakdown of goods transported by mode of transport
  • National inland transport by type of goods
  • Sales indices in road freight transport
  • Growth in e-commerce sales
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Latest news

Marfret and its refrigerated containers - 10/06/2022
  • Length of Marfret vessels: 180 m.
  • Carrying capacity of Marfret vessels: 2,500 containers.
  • Number of countries with which the company works: over 110.
  • Number of container ships in operation worldwide: 6,000.
  • Reefer container capacity: 30 m3.
  • Revenue per standard container: $1,500 per voyage.
  • Revenue per reefer container: $3,000 per voyage.
  • Marfret sales in 2021: up from 200 to 225 million euros.
  • Marfret EBITDA in 2021: 31 million euros.
  • Number of Marfret employees: 300, including 90 in Marseille.
French government forces Fret SNCF to come up with a new survival plan - 24/05/2023
  • In-depth investigation opened by the Commission last January.
  • Fret SNCF could give up part of its block train business and 10% of its workforce (out of 5,000 people).
  • Legal transformation of Fret SNCF into a simplified joint stock company (SAS) on January 1, 2002. From the beginning of 2007 to its transformation into a commercial company, the freight branch received between 4 and 4.3 billion in cash advances.
  • Fleet of 728 locomotives and 55% of the national rail freight market.
  • Fret SNCF headcount divided by three in ten years.
  • Rail freight sector opened to competition in France in 2006.
  • Fret SNCF is one of the five subsidiaries of the Rail Logistics Europe (RLE) division, alongside Captrain, Naviland Cargo, VIAA and Forwardis.
Fret SNCF's uncertain future in the hands of Brussels - 24/05/2023
  • 5.3 billion euros in public aid granted to Fret SNCF between 2007 and 2019.
  • 170 million euros injected by SNCF at the end of 2019 when Fret SNCF was transformed into an SAS.
  • Number of Fret SNCF employees: 15,000 in 2006 and 5,000 today.
  • Objective of the 2021 Climate and Resilience Act: to double the use of rail to transport goods from 2023 to 2030, from 9% to 18%.
  • Government support for rail development: 100 billion euros by 2040.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Martin-Brower France
XPO Logistics
FedEx
Marfret
Fret SNCF
DHL International Express France
UPS
FM Logistics
Jacky Perrenot
Kuehne + Nagel
DSV Panalpina
Geodis

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