Germany Last Mile Delivery - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts 2024 - 2029

The Germany Last Mile Delivery Market size is estimated at USD 28.72 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 36.16 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.71% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The mile delivery market is driven by several factors, including the development of the e-commerce sector and the rise in trading activities due to globalization, technological innovations in delivery vehicles, and the need for fast package delivery.

However, poor infrastructure, high logistics costs, a lack of control over logistics services by manufacturers and retailers, and an inaccurate postal address system will impede the market growth. Since the implementation of the directive to restrict social activities and non-essential commercial activities in Germany, freight transport by rail and road has decreased by approximately 20%.

The majority of online retailers were also affected by COVID-19. According to Deutsche Post, a daily average of 5.2 million parcels are usually delivered. Deutsche Post reported that during the lockdowns, more than 8 million packages and deliveries were transported daily. The coronavirus crisis has led to an increase in the demand for storage space in the country, which is not unexpected.

Germany has seen unprecedented growth in e-commerce, as has almost every country in the world. In parallel with the growth of e-commerce, nationwide out-of-the-home delivery options such as parcel lockers and parcel collection stations have become increasingly popular. Deutsche Post, for example, currently operates about 8500 automated parcel machines, with plans to increase that to 12,500 machines by 2023.

For instance, in June 2023, DODO, the same-day delivery service provider, expanded its operations into the German market, reinforcing the long-term viability of same-day, last-mile delivery. DODO has developed a comprehensive software and delivery ecosystem over the years to support players across a variety of industries. This ecosystem is further supported by the company's white-label solution, which allows direct integration into the company's IT structure. DODO currently employs more than 2500 couriers and 1,000 vehicles.

Germany Last Mile Delivery Market Trends

Growth in E-commerce is Driving the Market

The e-commerce platform market in Germany is mainly driven by the high internet penetration in the region and the growing use of smart devices. With increasing urbanization, many traditional businesses are turning to e-commerce platforms to increase the number of customers and market share, reduce overhead expenses, and increase the sales of their products.

In Germany, the majority of online stores accept PayPal or credit cards as the payment method. Many websites also accept bank transfers. Most websites accept invoices/buy now and pay later, and online customers can cancel their orders within 14 days and return their goods or services for any reason or no reason at all. There are so many benefits offered by e-commerce companies that the e-commerce industry in the region will continue to expand over the next few years.

Fashion makes up the biggest chunk of German e-commerce revenue (24.1%), followed by food and personal care (22.2%), furniture and appliances (20.2%), electronics and media (17.4%), and toys, and hobby and DIY (16.0%).

Government Investment in Transport Infrastructure Supports Last Mile Delivery

Last-mile delivery can be improved by investing in infrastructure that improves transportation networks, reduces congestion, and improves logistical efficiency. Roads, bridges, and ports that are upgraded will allow goods to be transported more quickly and efficiently, resulting in shorter delivery times. Smart traffic management systems (TMS) and dedicated delivery lanes can help reduce congestion and ensure timely deliveries. The digital infrastructure that supports real-time monitoring optimizes routes and improves communication between the delivery team and customers, which can also improve last-mile delivery.

Germany's federal government plans to allocate several million euros more in transport infrastructure spending in 2022 compared to 2021. The largest increase in transport infrastructure spending occurred in 2021 when EUR 11 billion (USD 12.01 billion) was allocated to federal railways, which was more than double the amount allocated in 2016. Over EUR 12 billion will be allocated to federal highways in 2022, and EUR 17 billion (USD 18.01 billion) will be allocated to waterways.

The expansion of the B247 became the largest infrastructure project in Northern Thuringia. The project consists of building two to four new lanes on a 22.2 km road section, including two new bypasses, 31 structures, including two bridges and five railway bridges, eight junctions, and around 6 km of additional state and federal roads. The works will be completed by mid-2025 by subsidiaries of the VINCI Group in Germany (Eurovia, VINCI Construction Terrassement, and Via Structure) in local partnership with Thuringian companies.

Germany Last Mile Delivery Industry Overview

Germany's Last Mile Delivery market is highly competitive as it is made up of a mix of international and domestic players. Some of Germany's leading players in the last-mile delivery market are DSV (Direktor von Schwerin), UPS (United Parcel Service) (UPS), DB Schwerin (Deutsche Post DHL), and FedEx (FedEx). Companies in the sector are focusing on growth through the integration of new technologies such as drones, e-vehicles, transport management systems (TMS), and artificial intelligence (AI). Germany's logistics players are struggling as labor costs are on the rise and labor availability is decreasing.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support