Sweden Freight And Logistics Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecast (2025 - 2030)

Sweden Freight And Logistics Market Trends and Insights

Government Investments into Green Freight Corridors and Electrified Road Networks

Sweden plans to electrify 2,000 km of high-traffic highways by 2030, including the world’s first permanent electric road on the E20 corridor^{[1]Euronews Staff, “Sweden Builds the World’s First Permanent Electrified Road,” euronews.com} . Dynamic charging will shrink truck battery packs by up to 71%, cutting vehicle weight and cost. Because road freight transport held a 63.41% share of the freight transport segment in 2024, corridor electrification is set to reshape cost structures for long-haul operators and accelerate heavy-duty EV adoption.

Expansion of Gothenburg Port Capacity to Support Export-Oriented Industries

The Arendal 2 terminal, completed in 2024 at a cost of EUR 60 million (USD 66.21 million), adds 144,000 m² of quay and storage, lifting annual box handling well beyond the record 914,000 TEUs set in 2023. Rail track upgrades now enable 240 trains per day, triple the previous limit. The port’s deepened fairway broadens the vessel mix and anchors Sweden's freight and logistics market growth by supporting export-led manufacturers.

Shift of Cargo from Road to Rail Driven by Carbon Taxation and EU “Fit-for-55” Policies

The inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and higher road user fees make rail more cost-competitive. Studies project marine fuel costs will rise 11-42% within the European Economic Area, encouraging shippers to channel higher-density cargo to rail. National greenhouse-gas reduction goals further underpin the pivot, although analysts caution that incentives must stay ahead of the decarbonizing road fleet.

Growing Adoption of Warehouse Automation and Robotics to Offset Labor Shortages

An inventory of 50 major retailers shows a marked shift toward goods-to-person systems, autonomous mobile robots, and digital twins, with automation intensity set to rise sharply by 2030. Staffing gaps, especially in aging rural districts, propel demand for automated storage and retrieval as operators safeguard service levels despite a projected 410,000 worker shortfall.

Capacity Constraints on Key Rail Freight Lines Causing Delays

Rail carries a significantly lower share of national freight, partly because the Nordic Triangle corridor lacks slots for rising cargo flows. The Malmbanan iron ore line suffered multiple derailments in 2023, halting trade for weeks. Although SEK 165 billion (USD 16.35 billion) has been earmarked for rail upgrades through 2033, industry groups argue the outlay falls short of the SEK 280 billion (USD 27.74 billion) needed to clear critical choke points^{[2]Swedish Transport Administration, “National Transport Infrastructure Plan 2022-2033,” trafikverket.se}.

High Logistics Costs from Long-Haul Distances and Low Back-Haul Utilization in the North

Sparse density forces trucks to return empty on northern routes, pushing unit costs 25-40% above the national mean^{[3]OECD, “International Trade in the Wake of Multiple Shocks,” oecd.org} . Transport makes up as much as 18% of production expenses for forestry and mining firms, reducing competitiveness until the Bothnian Corridor rail link is completed later next decade.

Segment Analysis

By End-User Industry: Manufacturing Drives Logistics Demand

The manufacturing segment accounted for the largest share of around 34.80% in 2024 within the Sweden freight and logistics market. Automotive, machinery, and high-tech producers funnel considerable volumes through Gothenburg and intermodal depots, requiring time-defined, multimodal solutions. The wholesale and retail trade segment is expected to grow the fastest at 4.08% forecast CAGR (2025-2030), signalling that online retail’s parcel surges will steadily close the gap. Construction leans on bulk transport for cement, steel, and project cargo tied to the green-energy build-out. Agriculture, fishing, and forestry, strong pulp exports via Gothenburg kept flows resilient despite global price swings. Mining and energy underpin dedicated rail and port infrastructure in the North.

Growth prospects differ across verticals. Manufacturing continues to retool for electrified mobility and low-CO₂ metals, spurring demand for inbound battery cells and outbound finished vehicles. Wholesale and retail trade is leveraging parcel lockers and same-day services to sharpen customer propositions. Construction logistics gains from state funding for electrified highways and port expansions. Resource sectors depend on rail reliability; any disruption diverts high-tonnage ore back to road, stressing sustainability goals. Broadly, 8 in 10 Nordic consumers now weigh sustainability in purchasing, pressuring shippers across every vertical to decarbonize distribution.

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

By Logistics Function: Freight Transport Dominates While Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Accelerates

Freight transport generated 63.45% of total revenues in Sweden freight and logistics market in 2024. Road freight transport remained king, handling short-haul pallets, groupage, and temperature-controlled food distribution. Sea and inland waterways freight transport benefited from direct Asia loops calling Gothenburg. Rail freight transport gained share where green-steel producers signed forward contracts for zero-carbon rail haulage. Air freight transport is small yet strategic for high-value electronics and urgent spares, expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.29% from 2025-2030. The CEP segment captured a significant revenue share of the total revenues on the strength of e-commerce and next-day cross-border offering. Freight forwarding is consolidating as global intermediaries acquire niche Scandinavian brokers to scale digital booking tools. The warehousing and storage segment is the hotbed of automation trials; non-temperature facilities dominate with a 91.76% segment share in 2024. 

Margin trends vary. Road carriers face higher capital outlays as they electrify fleets, yet lower fuel and maintenance expenses offset some costs. Maritime lines must factor ETS charges, nudging them toward LNG, methanol, or biodiesel. Air cargo operators embed sustainable aviation fuel surcharges in Scandinavia’s largest gateways. Forwarders are merging to fund visibility platforms that can span every mode. Warehouse operators invest heavily in robotics, trading higher capex for labor savings and improved throughput. 

By Courier, Express, and Parcel: E-commerce Reshapes Delivery Networks

In the CEP arena, domestic parcels accounted for 63.88% revenue share in 2024. International flows, though smaller, are forecast to outpace domestic at a 4.54% CAGR (2025-2030). E-commerce orders translated into 243 million parcels for PostNord alone in 2023, up 6% year on year. Consumers prize optionality: 59% want to select delivery mode, and parcel-locker preference climbed to 20% in 2023 from 5% four years earlier. Home delivery is still preferred by 68% of shoppers, but only 42% of merchants provide it, leaving white space for innovators. 

Competition is fierce. PostNord commanded the highest segment share in 2023, trailed by DHL with the second-highest segment share. Deutsche Bahn/DB Schenker, UPS, and FedEx each hold low-single-digit portions. Consolidation looms: DSV’s 2025 takeover of DB Schenker broadens cross-border parcel capacity. Technology is decisive in the current market. PostNord’s AI-enhanced Rosersberg sorter lifts hourly throughput 70%, raising accuracy to 99.8%. Operators race to electrify last-mile vans to satisfy city clean-air mandates.

By Warehousing and Storage: Automation Transforms Operations

Non-temperature buildings accounted for 91.76% of the segment revenue share in 2024 as Sweden’s exports lean toward paper, machinery, and consumer goods. The sector’s Sweden freight and logistics market share for automated solutions is rising as retailers deploy goods-to-person technology to handle SKU proliferation. Average automation penetration is forecast to double by 2030. Case in point: a logistics property in Borås changed hands in 2024, prized for its AutoStore grid and 12-ton floor load.

Temperature-controlled warehousing, expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.66% (2025-2030), services pharmaceuticals and a thriving frozen-food sector. EQT’s acquisition of Constellation Cold Logistics underscores private equity’s appetite for temperature-controlled nodes. Operators upgrade to natural refrigerants and pursue BREEAM certifications to lock in multinational tenants that pledge science-based targets. 

By Freight Transport Mode: Road Flexibility Meets Rail Sustainability

Road freight transport accounted for a 63.41% revenue share in 2024. Its reach across dispersed towns remains unmatched, particularly for perishables and home-delivery parcels. Road freight transport is expected to grow as charging corridors lower the total cost of ownership for battery electric trucks. Sea and inland waterways freight transport was anchored by Gothenburg’s deep-sea links and Stena Line’s Baltic ro-ro lanes. Rail freight transport could grow in value if capacity upgrades in the Nordic Triangle keep pace with demand. Air freight transport is expected to capture the strongest CAGR at 4.29% between 2025-2030, driven by semiconductor equipment and biotech shipments that value speed over cost. 

Rail’s competitiveness hinges on infrastructure works funded under the SEK 165 billion (USD 16.35 billion) national plan. Shippers are ready to switch high-density cargo once block-train paths are guaranteed. Road hauliers plan to halve emissions by 2030 through a mix of electric and biogas fleets. Maritime operators prepare to pass through ETS costs, but also pilot green methanol bunkering. Air cargo’s growth remains tied to belly capacity on intercontinental passenger flights; schedule restoration following the pandemic is a tailwind. 

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

By Freight Forwarding: Maritime Dominance Amid Modal Integration

Sea and Inland Waterways freight forwarding represented 70.77% revenue share in 2024, mirroring Sweden’s export profile of heavy and bulky goods. The Sweden freight and logistics market size for sea and inland waterways freight forwarding is forecast at a 4.04% CAGR from 2025-2030, helped by integrated digital platforms that stitch together sea and last-mile legs. Air freight forwarding caters to just-in-time supply chains in electronics and life sciences. The remaining covers customs clearance, project cargo, and supply-chain advisory. 

Consolidation is brisk. Logwin bought Infranordic Shipping in late 2024 to fortify Scandinavian reach and integrate TMS solutions. Buyers seek scale to tap into real-time visibility, CO₂ tracking, and compliance modules. Forwarders also secure rail capacity blocks as a hedge against maritime ETS surcharges. 

Geography Analysis

Western Sweden, anchored by Gothenburg, is the country’s foremost logistics gateway. The port handled 57% of national container throughput and logged 5% volume growth in H1 2024. Adjacent rail upgrades tripled daily train slots, connecting export-heavy clusters in Jonkoping and Vastra Gotaland. Ongoing fairway deepening accommodates larger LNG-ready vessels, reinforcing the Sweden freight and logistics market as an indispensable Nordic hub.

The Stockholm-Malaren basin hosts Sweden’s largest consumer catchment. Distribution centers around Eskilstuna and Vasteras support next-day parcel delivery across the capital region. Rising demand for choice drives investment in micro-fulfillment sites and parcel-locker grids. E-commerce players deploy AI demand-planning to minimize urban traffic peaks while preserving service promises. Proximity to Arlanda’s expanding cargo apron supports time-critical pharma and fashion imports destined for central Sweden boutiques.

The south, including Malmo, leverages the Oresund Bridge to funnel trade to Denmark and continental Europe. The Copenhagen-Malmo Port reported a 12% lift in cargo in 2023 and secured EUR 44 million (USD 48.56 million) in EU green port funding. Real-estate investors continue to add sustainable logistics parks near the E6 corridor, lured by demand for cross-border fulfillment. Skane’s horticulture exports generate back-haul for refrigerated trucks otherwise returning empty from northern markets.