Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Market Size and Share

Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Market (2025 - 2030)

Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The courier, express, and parcel market size is estimated at USD 686.80 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 885.5 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.21% during the forecast period (2025-2030). This outlook signals a transition from the pandemic-era surge toward steadier expansion led by premium services, network automation, and selective capacity additions. E-commerce remains the core volume engine, yet operators now emphasize margin protection through dynamic pricing, technology-enabled routing, and value-added verticals such as healthcare logistics. Cross-border flows are expanding as more small and medium exporters rely on digital marketplaces, while domestic volumes plateau in mature regions. Capital continues gravitating to digital-first networks able to integrate air capacity, regional road fleets, and out-of-home delivery points to optimize cost and speed. Consolidation, highlighted by DSV’s purchase of DB Schenker, underlines the strategic value of scale as labor shortages, fuel-neutral fleets, and air-freight constraints raise operating thresholds.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By destination, international parcels grew at 5.57% CAGR between 2025-2030, and domestic parcels accounted for 69.09% of the 2024 courier express parcel market share.
  • By model, business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments led with 47.72% revenue share in 2024; consumer-to-consumer (C2C) volumes are projected to expand at 6.43% CAGR between 2025-2030.
  • By shipment weight, light weight shipments under 5 kg represented 61.97% of the 2024 courier express parcel market share, whereas medium weight shipments between 5 kg and 31.5 kg are set to rise at 7.06% CAGR between 2025-2030.
  • By shipment speed, non-express services captured 63.13% of the courier express parcel market size in 2024, and express services are advancing at a 6.00% CAGR between 2025-2030.
  • By mode of transport, road transport held 48.49% of revenue in 2024, while air freight exhibits the fastest 5.66% growth rate between 2025-2030.
  • By end user industry, healthcare contributed the highest growth at 5.75% CAGR between 2025-2030, supported by temperature-controlled distribution demand; e-commerce captured the largest market share at 36.94% in 2024.
  • By geography, North America commanded 36.76% revenue share in 2024, while Asia-Pacific is projected to expand at a 6.77% CAGR between 2025-2030.

Segment Analysis

By End User Industry: Healthcare Logistics Leads

Healthcare recorded the fastest 5.75% CAGR between 2025-2030 as aging populations lift demand for temperature-controlled deliveries. DHL and UPS aim to grow healthcare revenues to USD 10.8 billion and USD 20 billion, respectively, underscoring strategic focus. Real-time data loggers ensure compliance, justifying premium fees embedded within the overall courier express parcel market pricing.

E-commerce still represented 36.94% of 2024 revenue but shows a gradual deceleration in mature regions. Manufacturing and wholesale trade offer steady B2B flows, while financial services shipments decline as digitization reduces physical document exchange.

Global Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Market: Market Share by End User Industry

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

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By Destination: International Growth Outpaces Domestic Stability

International parcels are projected to expand at a 5.57% CAGR between 2025-2030. The courier express parcel market size tied to cross-border flows is set to widen as trade agreements and electronic customs procedures simplify clearance. Domestic deliveries keep a 69.09% share in 2024, but mature e-commerce penetration caps growth.

Technology-enabled services such as BEST Inc.’s CNY 7 (USD 0.98) per-kilogram offering connect Southeast Asian shoppers to Chinese merchants, illustrating cost reductions through consolidated exports. WTO digital-trade frameworks and RCEP customs harmonization further encourage SMEs to ship internationally, expanding high-margin lanes for established integrators.

By Shipment Speed: Express Premium Retains Pricing Power

Non-Express consignments held a 63.13% revenue share in 2024, and express consignments are expected to grow at a 6.00% CAGR between 2025-2030, reflecting customer willingness to pay for speed. The courier express parcel market size attached to express tiers benefits from unified pricing engines that flex surcharges with real-time capacity data. Standard services remain essential for cost-sensitive freight but face margin pressure.

Healthcare and luxury retail customers rely on guaranteed-delivery windows, enabling carriers to capture premium yields. AI-driven routing shrinks delivery windows, increasing vehicle utilization even as urban congestion rises.

By Shipment Weight: Medium Parcels Accelerate

Lightweight shipments under 5 kg dominated 61.97% of shipments in 2024. Yet medium parcels between 5-31.5 kg are expected to rise at a 7.06% CAGR between 2025-2030, buoyed by online purchases of home goods and small appliances. Automated sorters now handle variable sizes without manual re-feed, supporting higher throughput.

Smart-packaging adoption aids space utilization and condition monitoring, protecting fragile medium-weight goods while enabling ergonomic loading. Heavy parcels stay niche due to modal competition from LTL trucking, though value-added handling keeps them profitable within the courier express parcel industry.

Global Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Market: Market Share by Shipment Weight

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

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By Mode of Transport: Air Transport Gains Pace while Road Transport Dominates

Road transport kept a 48.49% share in 2024 through dense national networks and cost advantages on short hauls. Air transport, expected to grow at a 5.66% CAGR between 2025-2030, satisfies cross-border e-commerce and high-value merchandise. Integrated carriers hedge capacity via block-space agreements, balancing volatile air-freight rates.

Driver scarcity and city emission regulations drive investment in electric vans, urban bicycles, and autonomous ground units. Air-to-road hand-offs at regional gateways optimize cost-to-serve metrics, reinforcing multimodal agility inside the courier express parcel market.

By Model: Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) Volume Momentum

Business-to-consumer (B2C) channels retained 47.72% revenue share in 2024, sustaining the largest slice of the courier express parcel market. Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) parcels, however, are projected to grow at a 6.43% CAGR between 2025-2030 as resale apps and social platforms proliferate. This evolution demands carrier products that bundle label creation, mobile tracking, and doorstep pickup for individual shippers.

Social-commerce integration blurs traditional B2C and C2C boundaries, pushing carriers to offer hybrid APIs for merchants and private sellers alike. Business-to-business (B2B) shipments remain stable but may cede share as manufacturers move toward direct-to-consumer distribution, altering network mix and asset allocation.

Geography Analysis

North America commanded 36.76% of 2024 revenue, anchored by consumer expectations for two-day delivery and developed last-mile assets. Persistent driver shortages magnify operating costs, prompting automation pilots and the acquisition of healthcare specialists such as UPS-Andlauer to secure growth niches. Urban micro-fulfillment centers and same-day offerings support premium-rate stability even as volume growth moderates.

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region at 6.77% CAGR between 2025-2030, propelled by cross-border e-commerce and rising consumer incomes. China’s RMB 21.4 trillion (USD 3.01 trillion) digital retail base drives parcel density, while RCEP customs alignment lowers friction. Yamato Holdings targets JPY 2-2.4 trillion (USD 0.28-0.33 trillion) revenue by FY2027, embedding carbon-neutral pledges to align with regional sustainability mandates. Europe combines legacy postal infrastructure with aggressive decarbonization policies. The ban on new combustion vans by 2035 accelerates fleet electrification; PostNL plans 100% emission-free Benelux delivery by 2030. DHL’s merger with Evri pools international and domestic strengths to handle more than 1 billion UK parcels per year.

Middle East and Africa benefit from GCC diversification programs. Saudi Arabia’s automated hub exemplifies investments positioning the region as an intercontinental transit bridge. Security risks on central corridors and fragmented infrastructure still temper growth, favoring partnerships with national postal operators that bring local expertise. South America remains smaller but developing customs reforms, such as Brazil’s Remessa Conforme program, improve data quality and compliance, encouraging global platforms to expand cross-border offerings. Currency volatility and patchy road networks require flexible, country-specific approaches.

Global Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Market CAGR (%), Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

The market is moderately consolidated. DSV’s EUR 14.3 billion (USD 15.78 billion) takeover of DB Schenker elevates combined turnover to EUR 40.3 billion (USD 44.47 billion), creating the largest global forwarder and underscoring the value of scale in the courier express parcel market. Integrated giants like UPS and FedEx leverage premium express portfolios, while regional specialists fortify positions via technology and niche verticals.

Automation, AI routing, and blockchain-enabled visibility distinguish service quality. MDPI research indicates real-time tracking elevates customer satisfaction and reduces disputes. Electric-fleet rollouts comply with tightening emission caps, and autonomous drones and sidewalk robots undergo pilot deployments, though regulatory hurdles slow full adoption.

White-space opportunities persist in cross-border facilitation for SMEs, healthcare cold-chain, and eco-friendly last-mile models. Market consolidation is expected to continue as labor constraints and capital requirements raise competitive entry thresholds.

Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Industry Leaders

  1. DHL Group

  2. FedEx

  3. United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS)

  4. SF Express (KEX-SF)

  5. La Poste Group (including DPD Group)

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Global Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • June 2025: JD.com launched its first self-operated international express service to compete globally.
  • May 2025: DHL eCommerce UK merged with Evri, forming a network delivering over 1 billion parcels annually.
  • April 2025: UPS agreed to buy Andlauer Healthcare Group for CAD 2.2 billion (USD 1.6 billion), expanding temperature-controlled capacity.
  • June 2024: FedEx completed its major company consolidation, integrating FedEx Express, Ground, and Services into a single organization while keeping FedEx Freight as a standalone unit; expected cost savings total USD 2 billion by FY 2027.

Table of Contents for Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Industry Report

1. Introduction

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Landscape

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Demographics
  • 4.3 GDP Distribution by Economic Activity
  • 4.4 GDP Growth by Economic Activity
  • 4.5 Inflation
  • 4.6 Economic Performance and Profile
    • 4.6.1 Trends in E-Commerce Industry
    • 4.6.2 Trends in Manufacturing Industry
  • 4.7 Transport and Storage Sector GDP
  • 4.8 Export Trends
  • 4.9 Import Trends
  • 4.10 Fuel Price
  • 4.11 Logistics Performance
  • 4.12 Infrastructure
  • 4.13 Regulatory Framework
  • 4.14 Value Chain and Distribution Channel Analysis
  • 4.15 Market Drivers
    • 4.15.1 E-commerce Penetration Driving B2C Parcel Volumes in Emerging Asia-Pacific Region
    • 4.15.2 Cross-Border SME Exports Leveraging Digital Marketplaces in Europe Region
    • 4.15.3 Same-Day Delivery Premiumization in Urban North America
    • 4.15.4 Government Push for Postal Network Modernization in GCC Countries
    • 4.15.5 Adoption of Out-of-Home PUDO Networks in Nordics
    • 4.15.6 Cold-Chain Compliance Requirements for Healthcare CEP in Japan
  • 4.16 Market Restraints
    • 4.16.1 Air Capacity Constraints Witnessed on the Trans-Pacific Lanes
    • 4.16.2 Chronic Driver Shortage Impacting Last-Mile Costs in the US and UK
    • 4.16.3 Regulatory Caps Implementation on Delivery Fleet Emissions in EU27
    • 4.16.4 Rising Security Risks on Africa’s Central Corridor Routes
  • 4.17 Technology Innovations in the Market
  • 4.18 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.18.1 Competitive Rivalry
    • 4.18.2 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.18.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.18.4 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.18.5 Threat of Substitutes

5. Market Size and Growth Forecasts (Value, USD)

  • 5.1 Destination
    • 5.1.1 Domestic
    • 5.1.2 International
  • 5.2 Speed of Delivery
    • 5.2.1 Express
    • 5.2.2 Non-Express
  • 5.3 Model
    • 5.3.1 Business-to-Business (B2B)
    • 5.3.2 Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
    • 5.3.3 Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
  • 5.4 Shipment Weight
    • 5.4.1 Heavy Weight Shipments
    • 5.4.2 Light Weight Shipments
    • 5.4.3 Medium Weight Shipments
  • 5.5 Mode of Transport
    • 5.5.1 Air
    • 5.5.2 Road
    • 5.5.3 Others
  • 5.6 End User Industry
    • 5.6.1 E-Commerce
    • 5.6.2 Financial Services (BFSI)
    • 5.6.3 Healthcare
    • 5.6.4 Manufacturing
    • 5.6.5 Primary Industry
    • 5.6.6 Wholesale and Retail Trade (Offline)
    • 5.6.7 Others
  • 5.7 Geography
    • 5.7.1 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.7.1.1 Australia
    • 5.7.1.2 China
    • 5.7.1.3 India
    • 5.7.1.4 Indonesia
    • 5.7.1.5 Japan
    • 5.7.1.6 Malaysia
    • 5.7.1.7 Pakistan
    • 5.7.1.8 Philippines
    • 5.7.1.9 Thailand
    • 5.7.1.10 Vietnam
    • 5.7.1.11 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.7.2 Europe
    • 5.7.2.1 Albania
    • 5.7.2.2 Bulgaria
    • 5.7.2.3 Croatia
    • 5.7.2.4 Czech Republic
    • 5.7.2.5 Denmark
    • 5.7.2.6 Estonia
    • 5.7.2.7 Finland
    • 5.7.2.8 France
    • 5.7.2.9 Germany
    • 5.7.2.10 Hungary
    • 5.7.2.11 Iceland
    • 5.7.2.12 Italy
    • 5.7.2.13 Latvia
    • 5.7.2.14 Lithuania
    • 5.7.2.15 Netherlands
    • 5.7.2.16 Norway
    • 5.7.2.17 Poland
    • 5.7.2.18 Romania
    • 5.7.2.19 Russia
    • 5.7.2.20 Slovak Republic
    • 5.7.2.21 Slovenia
    • 5.7.2.22 Spain
    • 5.7.2.23 Sweden
    • 5.7.2.24 Switzerland
    • 5.7.2.25 United Kingdom
    • 5.7.2.26 Rest of Europe
    • 5.7.3 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.7.3.1 Qatar
    • 5.7.3.2 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.7.3.3 UAE
    • 5.7.3.4 Egypt
    • 5.7.3.5 Nigeria
    • 5.7.3.6 South Africa
    • 5.7.3.7 Rest of Middle East and Africa
    • 5.7.4 North America
    • 5.7.4.1 Canada
    • 5.7.4.2 Mexico
    • 5.7.4.3 United States
    • 5.7.4.4 Rest of North America
    • 5.7.5 South America
    • 5.7.5.1 Argentina
    • 5.7.5.2 Brazil
    • 5.7.5.3 Chile
    • 5.7.5.4 Rest of South America

6. Competitive Landscape

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Key Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (Includes Global Level Overview, Market Level Overview, Core Segments, Financials as Available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for Key Companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Aramex
    • 6.4.2 Australian Postal Corporation
    • 6.4.3 Canada Post Corporation (Including Purolator, Inc.)
    • 6.4.4 China Post
    • 6.4.5 CJ Logistics
    • 6.4.6 Deppon Logistics Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.7 DHL Group
    • 6.4.8 Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telegrafos
    • 6.4.9 FedEx
    • 6.4.10 InPost Sp. z o.o.
    • 6.4.11 International Distribution Services PLC
    • 6.4.12 JD.com, Inc. (Including JD Logistics, Inc.)
    • 6.4.13 La Poste Group (Including DPD Group)
    • 6.4.14 LX International Corp. (Including LX Pantos Co., Ltd.)
    • 6.4.15 Osterreichische Post AG (Austrian Post)
    • 6.4.16 Poste Italiane
    • 6.4.17 PostNL N.V.
    • 6.4.18 PostNord AB
    • 6.4.19 SF Express (KEX-SF)
    • 6.4.20 SG Holdings Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.21 STO Express Co., Ltd. (Shentong Express)
    • 6.4.22 Swiss Post, Ltd.
    • 6.4.23 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS)
    • 6.4.24 Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.
    • 6.4.25 ZTO Express (Cayman), Inc.

7. Market Opportunities and Future Outlook

  • 7.1 White-Space and Unmet-Need Assessment
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Research Methodology Framework and Report Scope

Market Definitions and Key Coverage

Our study defines the global courier, express, and parcel (CEP) market as every door-to-door service that moves documents or parcels under 70 kg through road, air, rail, or water networks, tracks them end-to-end, and charges on a per-item basis. The framework groups revenues by delivery speed, destination, shipment weight, service model, transport mode, and end-user industry so we can capture the full value pool without double counting.

Scope exclusion: freight forwarding and palletized shipments above 70 kg sit outside this assessment.

Segmentation Overview
  • Destination
    • Domestic
    • International
  • Speed of Delivery
    • Express
    • Non-Express
  • Model
    • Business-to-Business (B2B)
    • Business-to-Consumer (B2C)
    • Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C)
  • Shipment Weight
    • Heavy Weight Shipments
    • Light Weight Shipments
    • Medium Weight Shipments
  • Mode of Transport
    • Air
    • Road
    • Others
  • End User Industry
    • E-Commerce
    • Financial Services (BFSI)
    • Healthcare
    • Manufacturing
    • Primary Industry
    • Wholesale and Retail Trade (Offline)
    • Others
  • Geography
    • Asia-Pacific
      • Australia
      • China
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Malaysia
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • Europe
      • Albania
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Lithuania
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Slovak Republic
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Middle East and Africa
      • Qatar
      • Saudi Arabia
      • UAE
      • Egypt
      • Nigeria
      • South Africa
      • Rest of Middle East and Africa
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • United States
      • Rest of North America
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Rest of South America

Detailed Research Methodology and Data Validation

Primary Research

Telephone interviews and online surveys with senior managers from integrators, postal agencies, e-commerce platforms, and fulfillment partners across North America, Europe, and Asia validate growth drivers, price shifts, and service-mix changes. Follow-up calls with technology vendors and regional parcel associations close information gaps and flag nascent trends.

Desk Research

We begin with structured desk work that pulls monthly figures from the Universal Postal Union, World Bank logistics indicators, IATA cargo statistics, and trade associations such as the European Parcel & Postal Forum. Annual reports, 10-Ks, investor decks, and customs portals supply carrier-level splits that enrich baseline inputs.

Subscription resources: D&B Hoovers for company financials, Dow Jones Factiva for news flow, and Questel for parcel-related patent filings help us gauge technology adoption and competitive moves. We also scan regulatory gazettes to monitor de-minimis thresholds and labor rules that sway parcel flows. The sources named illustrate the wider pool we interrogate; many others inform data collection and validation.

Market-Sizing & Forecasting

Our model applies a top-down build that reconstructs domestic and cross-border parcel demand from national volume series, e-commerce penetration, and GDP-adjusted purchasing power, which are then checked against sampled carrier average-price-times-volume roll-ups. Variables such as smartphone adoption, return-rate ratios, aircraft belly-hold capacity, and fuel-adjusted surcharges feed a multivariate regression that projects values to 2030. When bottom-up checks diverge, carrier splits are scaled so totals stay within a ±3 percent band.

Data Validation & Update Cycle

Mordor analysts compare model outputs with independent shipment indices and currency movements, and when anomalies emerge, a second analyst review is triggered before sign-off. Reports refresh each year, with interim updates if regulation, major M&A, or fuel shocks breach predefined thresholds. A final quality sweep occurs just before release so clients receive the latest view.

Why Mordor's Courier, Express, And Parcel (CEP) Baseline Commands High Confidence Across Decision-Making Circles

Published CEP estimates often disagree because firms slice the market differently, convert currencies at varied points, or refresh models on uneven cadences. We believe buyers deserve transparency, so the main factors behind divergent numbers are previewed below.

Key gap drivers include narrower scopes that drop over-weight parcels, optimistic volume multipliers tied to short-term e-commerce spikes, or aggressive price escalators. Our study presents a balanced base case, uses constant 2024 dollars, and is refreshed annually.

Benchmark comparison

Market Size Anonymized source Primary gap driver
USD 686.8 B (2025) Mordor Intelligence -
USD 506.2 B (2024) Global Consultancy A Excludes parcels above 30 kg yet applies higher unit prices; currency fixed at 2023 rates
USD 456.6 B (2024) Industry Analyst B Models only B2C flows and omits cross-border returns

These comparisons show that, once scope, weight ceilings, and pricing logic are aligned, Mordor's number offers a dependable midpoint between optimistic and conservative views. Clients can trace every variable back to public series and clearly documented interviews, which is why planners keep turning to us for a reliable baseline.

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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current size of the global courier express parcel market?

The market generated USD 686.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 885.5 billion by 2030.

Which region leads the courier express parcel market today?

North America holds the largest share at 36.76% of 2024 revenue thanks to mature last-mile infrastructure and strong demand for premium delivery services.

Which segment is growing fastest within the market?

The consumer-to-consumer model shows the highest rate, advancing at a 6.43% CAGR between 2025-2030 as social-commerce and resale platforms proliferate.

Why is healthcare logistics a priority for parcel operators?

Strict temperature-control rules and rising pharmaceutical demand push healthcare parcels to a 5.75% CAGR between 2025-2030, creating premium revenue streams for carriers.

How are capacity constraints on trans-Pacific air lanes affecting the sector?

Limited freighter additions and rising e-commerce demand are lifting spot rates by 15% year-on-year and compelling operators to prioritize high-value, time-critical cargo.

What strategic moves indicate ongoing consolidation in the industry?

DSV’s EUR 14.3 billion (USD 15.78 billion) acquisition of DB Schenker and UPS’s CAD 2.2 billion (USD 1.65 billion) purchase of Andlauer Healthcare Group demonstrate the drive for scale, specialized capabilities, and global reach.

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