North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Report Segments by Service Type (Transportation, Warehousing & Storage and Value-Added Services and Others), by Mode of Operation (Cold-Chain Logistics and Non-Cold-Chain Logistics), by Product Type (Prescription Drugs, OTC Drugs, Biologics & Biosimilars, and More), by Country (United States, Canada and Mexico). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Size and Share

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North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market size is estimated at USD 181.70 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 241.85 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.89% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Growth is anchored in the region’s large drug manufacturing base, strict compliance environment and rapid adoption of digital supply-chain technologies, all of which demand reliable temperature-controlled transport and granular traceability. Momentum is further reinforced by a surge in cell and gene therapy trials that require ultra-cold networks, rising direct-to-patient distribution in the specialty pharmacy channel and near-shoring of fill-finish capacity to Mexico. Capital expenditure remains strong, with DHL alone committing USD 2.2 billion to healthcare logistics through 2030, half of it in North America, to scale purpose-built hubs, vehicle fleets and control-tower systems[1]DHL Group, “DHL to Invest EUR 2 Billion in Global Healthcare Logistics,” dhl.com. Competitive intensity is escalating as integrators, specialist 3PLs and IoT-enabled start-ups vie for opportunities in biologics, last-mile and cross-border corridors, keeping market concentration moderate.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By service type, transportation captured 72% of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market share in 2024, whereas warehousing and storage is projected to log the fastest 6.5% CAGR through 2030.
  • By mode of operation, non-cold-chain services accounted for a 54% share, while cold-chain services are set to expand at 7.2% CAGR to 2030.
  • By product type, prescription drugs led with 38.2% revenue share in 2024; cell and gene therapies are forecast to rise at an 11.6% CAGR through 2030.
  • By geography, the United States held an 82% share of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market size in 2024, while Mexico is poised for the fastest 8.1% CAGR to 2030.

Segment Analysis

By Service Type: Transportation Dominates Despite Warehousing Acceleration

Transportation captured 72% of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market share in 2024, reflecting the centrality of air, road and multimodal services for timely deliveries across a vast region. Domestic truck routes connect more than USD 1.6 trillion in U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade, while Boeing forecasts 4.1% annual expansion in air-cargo traffic driven by e-commerce and high-value goods, including medicines[2]U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “U.S. International Freight Flows 2024,” bts.gov.

Warehousing and storage, though smaller, is set to grow at.5 6% CAGR as manufacturers create inventory buffers for critical drugs and as advanced therapies demand controlled environments. Robotic picking systems and automated cold rooms shorten order cycles and raise accuracy, while ISO-certified clean rooms support secondary packaging and kitting. Labour scarcity accelerates capital investment in automation, and value-added services such as late-stage customisation and regulatory support differentiate providers within the North America pharmaceutical logistics industry.

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

By Mode of Operation: Cold-Chain Logistics Outpaces Traditional Models

Non-cold-chain services remain the larger category at 54% of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market size in 2024, serving most oral solids and medical devices. Cold-chain services are forecasted to expand 7.2% annually through 2030 as biologics, vaccines and advanced therapies proliferate.

Lineage Logistics and Americold operate 71% of regional cold-storage facilities, yet new entrants armed with sensor-enabled containers are challenging incumbents. Real-time monitoring improves successful deliveries to above 99% while reducing CO₂ output, enhancing competitiveness. Software that predicts lane-specific risk allows shippers to choose optimal modes, strengthening resilience in the North America pharmaceutical logistics market.

North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market
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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Product Type: Cell & Gene Therapies Drive Specialized Logistics Demand

Prescription medicines led with a 38.2% share of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market size in 2024. Over-the-counter products, biosimilars and vaccines follow as mature revenue sources that require strict yet standardised handling.

Cell and gene therapies, although nascent, are projected to post a 11.6% CAGR through 2030. Cryogenic storage at -196 °C, specialised courier escorts and point-of-care delivery models set this class apart. Regulatory agencies are piloting decentralised manufacturing to cut transit time, which could shift logistics from central hubs to regional nodes. Top animal-health firms such as Zoetis, Merck Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim also rely on livestock vaccine chains that mirror human vaccine requirements, adding diversity to the North America pharmaceutical logistics market.

Geography Analysis

The United States commanded 82% of North America pharmaceutical logistics market revenue in 2024, supported by large-scale drug manufacturing clusters, world-class compliance standards and heavy infrastructure spending. Multi-billion-dollar expansions by Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson and Amgen in North Carolina illustrate how new production hubs create parallel demand for validated storage and time-critical transportation. DSCSA milestones continue to catalyse technology adoption, with serialization and data-exchange solutions rolling out across wholesalers, dispensers and 3PLs.

Canada contributes a smaller but strategically important slice of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market. Government incentives for biologics plants, a rich real-world evidence ecosystem and the proposed national pharmacare program are harmonising demand for GMP-compliant depots[3]Health Canada, “Pharmacare at a Glance,” canada.ca . Cross-border exchanges under USMCA facilitate two-way flows of APIs and finished dose forms. Continued investment in cold-chain corridors through Ontario and Quebec will lift usage of specialised trucking lanes and air-freight charters.

Mexico is the fastest-growing geography, expected to rise 8.1% on a CAGR basis through 2030. Tax breaks on research and manufacturing equipment and proximity to U.S. buyers make near-shoring attractive. Yet power reliability, water scarcity and cargo security remain hurdles. Strengthened customs coordination and the 2026 USMCA review could further streamline trade, positioning Mexico as a vital node in the broader North America pharmaceutical logistics market.

Competitive Landscape

Market structure is moderately fragmented. Global integrators like DHL, UPS and FedEx scale dedicated healthcare units, while specialists such as CryoPDP and Marken focus on clinical and ultra-cold lanes. DHL’s USD 1.1 billion North American outlay covers new pharmaceutical hubs, temperature-controlled vehicles and digital control towers. UPS targets USD 20 billion in healthcare revenue by 2026 via purpose-built campuses and drone-enabled last-mile pilots.

Strategic M&A reshapes capabilities. DHL acquired CryoPDP to lock in end-to-end cell-and-gene coverage, while Novo Holdings’ USD 16.5 billion purchase of Catalent increases integrated supply options though it raised antitrust scrutiny. Technology is becoming a key differentiator. Warehouse robotics, AI-powered demand sensing and blockchain traceability improve visibility and cut errors, helping providers win DSCSA-driven bids.

White-space opportunities are visible in cross-border cold-chain routes, direct-to-patient fulfilment and sustainability-oriented packaging. Emerging players leverage IoT telemetry to promise excursion-free performance and lower carbon footprints, challenging incumbents and expanding service quality across the North America pharmaceutical logistics market.

North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Industry Leaders

  1. DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding

  2. UPS Healthcare

  3. Kuehne + Nagel International AG

  4. C.H. Robinson

  5. FedEx Logistics

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • February 2025: Eli Lilly announced a USD 27 billion plan to build four new U.S. production sites, creating 3,000 jobs and boosting injectable capacity.
  • Feb 2025: U.S. administration imposed tariffs of 25% on most Mexican and Canadian imports and 10% on Chinese goods, increasing logistics costs in regional supply chains.
  • January 2025: DHL Supply Chain agreed to acquire Inmar Supply Chain Solutions to widen pharmaceutical fulfilment capabilities.
  • December 2024: Amgen confirmed a USD 1 billion addition to its North Carolina site, bringing total investment to USD 1.5 billion.

Table of Contents for North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Industry Report

1. Introduction

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

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Market Landscape

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Surge in Cell- & Gene-Therapy Clinical Trials Requiring Ultra-Cold Distribution Infrastructure
    • 4.2.2 Rise of Direct-to-Patient (DtP) Models in U.S. Specialty Pharmacy Channel
    • 4.2.3 Expansion of U.S.–Mexico Near-shore Fill-Finish Facilities Creating Cross-Border Cold-Chain Flows
    • 4.2.4 Canada’s Biologics Manufacturing Incentives Boosting Demand for GMP Warehousing
    • 4.2.5 Growing Adoption of Real-Time IoT Temperature-Monitoring Mandated by U.S. DSCSA 2024 Milestone
    • 4.2.6 Sustainability Push for Re-Usable Passive Shippers to Slash Airfreight Carbon Footprint
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Chronic Driver Shortages Limiting Domestic Road Capacity for Time-Critical Shipments
    • 4.3.2 High Cost of Dry-Ice & Liquid-Nitrogen Compliance for ≤-70 °C Modalities
    • 4.3.3 Fragmented Mexican Cold-Chain Regulations Elevating In-Transit Risk
    • 4.3.4 Border Congestion Impacting On-Time Performance of Cross-Border Truckloads
  • 4.4 Value / Supply-Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory & Technological Outlook
  • 4.6 Porter's Five Forces
    • 4.6.1 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.6.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.6.3 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.6.4 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.6.5 Competitive Rivalry

5. Market Size & Growth Forecasts (Value, USD Billion)

  • 5.1 By Service Type
    • 5.1.1 Transportation
    • 5.1.1.1 Road Freight
    • 5.1.1.2 Air Freight
    • 5.1.1.3 Sea Freight
    • 5.1.1.4 Rail Freight
    • 5.1.2 Warehousing & Storage
    • 5.1.3 Value-added Services and Others
  • 5.2 By Mode of Operation
    • 5.2.1 Cold-Chain Logistics
    • 5.2.2 Non-Cold-Chain Logistics
  • 5.3 By Product Type
    • 5.3.1 Prescription Drugs
    • 5.3.2 OTC Drugs
    • 5.3.3 Biologics & Biosimilars
    • 5.3.4 Vaccines & Blood Products
    • 5.3.5 Clinical Trail Materials
    • 5.3.6 Cell & Gene Therapies
    • 5.3.7 Medical Devices & Diagnostics
    • 5.3.8 Veterinary Medicine 
    • 5.3.9 Others
  • 5.4 By Country
    • 5.4.1 United States
    • 5.4.2 Canada
    • 5.4.3 Mexico

6. Competitive Landscape

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 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 & Services, and Recent Developments)}
    • 6.4.1 DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding
    • 6.4.2 UPS Healthcare
    • 6.4.3 FedEx Logistics
    • 6.4.4 Kuehne + Nagel International AG
    • 6.4.5 DSV (DB Schenker)
    • 6.4.6 CEVA Logistics
    • 6.4.7 Marken
    • 6.4.8 World Courier
    • 6.4.9 Cryoport Systems
    • 6.4.10 Lineage Logistics
    • 6.4.11 AIT Worldwide Logistics
    • 6.4.12 Envirotainer
    • 6.4.13 Bolloré Logistics
    • 6.4.14 Nippon Express
    • 6.4.15 SEKO Logistics
    • 6.4.16 Expeditors International
    • 6.4.17 Americold Logistics
    • 6.4.18 Cold Chain Technologies (CCT)
    • 6.4.19 C.H. Robinson*

7. Market Opportunities & Future Outlook

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North America Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Report Scope

Pharmaceutical logistics entails the procedures and actions of the product acquisition, storage, inventory control, and transportation while ensuring consistency in medicine quality throughout inventory control and delivery.

The North American Pharmaceutical Logistics market is segmented by Product (Generic Drugs and Branded Drugs), Mode of Operation (Cold Chain Transport and Non-Cold Chain Transport), Application (Bio Pharma, Chemical Pharma, and Specialized Pharma), Mode of Transport (Air Shipping, Rail Shipping, Road Shipping, and Sea Shipping), and Geography (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The report offers the market size and forecasts in value (USD billion) for all the above segments.

By Service Type Transportation Road Freight
Air Freight
Sea Freight
Rail Freight
Warehousing & Storage
Value-added Services and Others
By Mode of Operation Cold-Chain Logistics
Non-Cold-Chain Logistics
By Product Type Prescription Drugs
OTC Drugs
Biologics & Biosimilars
Vaccines & Blood Products
Clinical Trail Materials
Cell & Gene Therapies
Medical Devices & Diagnostics
Veterinary Medicine 
Others
By Country United States
Canada
Mexico
By Service Type
Transportation Road Freight
Air Freight
Sea Freight
Rail Freight
Warehousing & Storage
Value-added Services and Others
By Mode of Operation
Cold-Chain Logistics
Non-Cold-Chain Logistics
By Product Type
Prescription Drugs
OTC Drugs
Biologics & Biosimilars
Vaccines & Blood Products
Clinical Trail Materials
Cell & Gene Therapies
Medical Devices & Diagnostics
Veterinary Medicine 
Others
By Country
United States
Canada
Mexico
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the current size of the North America pharmaceutical logistics market?

The market is valued at USD 181.70 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 241.85 billion by 2030.

Which service segment holds the largest share of the market?

Transportation services dominate with 72% of revenue in 2024, reflecting the need for rapid, compliant movement of medicines.

Why is cold-chain logistics growing faster than non-cold-chain services?

The rise of biologics, vaccines and cell-and-gene therapies demands strict temperature control, driving an 7.2% CAGR for cold-chain operations through 2030.

Which country is growing the fastest within the region?

Mexico is forecast to post a 8.1% CAGR as companies near-shore fill-finish capacity to take advantage of new tax incentives.

What are the main constraints on market growth?

Chronic driver shortages that limit road capacity and high compliance costs for ultra-cold shipments exert downward pressure on growth despite strong demand.

How are companies addressing sustainability in pharmaceutical logistics?

Carriers are adopting re-usable passive shippers, IoT monitoring and route optimisation to cut carbon emissions while safeguarding product integrity.

Page last updated on: July 1, 2025

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