Logistics in Germany: an overview

In May of this year, the commercial register recorded 30,788 active companies in the logistics sector. Last year alone, 3,803 logistics companies ventured into the market. Compared to the pre-coronavirus year of 2018, this represents a 35% increase in the sector. At the same time, only 328 companies filed for insolvency in 2021, which marks a 12-year low. So far in 2022, 971 new transport companies, warehouses and related service providers have been founded.

Measured as a percentage of the general industry landscape per federal state, the north is best positioned in terms of logistics: Hamburg has the largest share with 2.6 percent, followed by Bremen, Brandenburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. In terms of water transportation in particular, Hamburg is ahead with 682 and Lower Saxony with 649 economically active companies - far ahead of the quantitative leader North Rhine-Westphalia. The most populous federal state is the undisputed leader in rail, road and logistics centers and warehouses. Hesse is ahead in air transport with 75 companies.

Not a figurehead: female managers in the logistics industry

One area in which the sector can gain even more momentum is the number of female managers. While the proportion of women in management positions across all sectors in Germany is around 24%, logistics only has just over 10%. Here again, the sectors differ greatly: while road transport still has 16 percent, rail transport literally falls by the wayside with three percent women in management positions.

Successful on the rails

When looking at individual logistics sectors, one thing stands out: Rail transport reported the strongest growth from 2020 to 2021 at 200%. The reasons for this may be announced federal funding to modernize the rail system or the positive climate footprint of transporting goods by rail. Rail transport is followed by air transport with an increase of 68%, water transport with 58%, warehouses with 26% and, bringing up the rear, road transport with 7%.

Warehouses and distribution centers

Intralogistics has also been one of the big winners in recent years, with 2021 breaking all records: 20 years ago, 271 new companies emerged, 10 years later the number grew by 200 warehouses. In 2020, warehouse logistics already recorded 643 new market participants. Due to pandemic measures and supply bottlenecks, the number of new start-ups rose to 810 companies in 2021 within a year. At the same time, insolvencies remained at their lowest level since 2008.

"The current look at the commercial register gives the impression that the logistics industry is responding to its challenges by founding new specialized market players," observes Alexander Hiller, Managing Director of databyte GmbH. "Whether it's the LKSG, supply bottlenecks or the implementation of upcoming ESG guidelines - the industry is on the move."