UK Parcel Delivery Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2028 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2022 |
| Market Size (2023) | USD 16.10 Billion |
| Market Size (2028) | USD 23.59 Billion |
| CAGR (2023 - 2028) | 7.93 % |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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UK Parcel Delivery Market Analysis
The United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market size is expected to grow from USD 16.10 billion in 2023 to USD 23.59 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 7.93% during the forecast period (2023-2028).
Even though the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is benefiting online retail from the large-scale substitution of purchases from various physical stores, the weakening economy is likely to force people to reduce non-essential purchases. The recent lockdown relaxations have even further surged the CEP market in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom courier, express, and parcel (CEP) market is growing with the increasing number of same-day delivery transactions. The United Kingdom, along with Italy, has been the faster-growing market in the European region, owing to the powerful digital trends that are driving the market. The key market players are continuously reinventing the post and parcel industry with technology-driven innovations.
The growing internet penetration is shifting retail to the digital world. The post and parcel companies are focusing on strategies to re-engineer their core businesses to meet the new face of rapidly expanding B2C parcel delivery, especially same-day delivery. The same-day strategy led by Amazon changed the pace of the delivery market and is becoming more widely offered.
In the United Kingdom, 160 parcels were generated every second, or 14 million each day. Parcel volume grew by 33%, year-over-year, reaching 5 billion in 2020, up from 3.8 billion in 2019. Parcels generated per person rose to 74, an increase from 56 in 2019.
Technological innovations and the use of robotics for automated sorting in hubs and depots are helping the market to fulfill the promises in a faster manner. The Royal Mail PLC, which is one of the leading market players of the CEP market in the United Kingdom, has led the market with over 1.3 billion parcels and 13 billion letter deliveries.
UK Parcel Delivery Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the UK Courier, Express, & Parcel (CEP) Market according to our research experts:
The B2B Market Segment is Driving CEP Market
The United Kingdom is a B2B nation and has a huge influence on the global B2B market. According to research, nearly 40% of UK companies derive all/majority of their income from B2B activity, and a further 42% are blended businesses, with some of their income from B2B.
B2B focuses on four key sectors – business administration and support, information and communication technology, professional, scientific, and technical and construction. The production sector (which includes manufacturing) accounts for a relatively small number of B2B businesses, but the firms operating here tend to be extremely large and global outfits.
Industrial customers have been under strain in terms of operational efficiency, profitability, and performance. They expect faster time-to-market, lower defect rates, and customized products. Indeed, in some manufacturing industries, the pace of changing customer expectations has been even faster than that of private end-consumers.
B2B e-commerce is set to witness strong growth in the United Kingdom as businesses look to move investment online, away from stores and branches, as was the case earlier. Companies are focusing on the digitalization of their sales platforms to achieve greater customer penetration and long-term efficiencies. The UK B2B e-commerce market is estimated to grow from USD 249 billion in 2021 to USD 391 billion in 2025, registering a CAGR of 11.9%, with a cumulative value of just over USD 1.5 trillion over the period.
The growth in international trade is another factor driving the market, with a high percentage of businesses now trading internationally. The B2B segment after the COVID-19-related lockdown relaxation has surged, driving the CEP market in the United Kingdom.
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Increasing E-commerce Penetration is Anticipated to Drive the Market
With a turnover of USD 105 billion in 2020, the United Kingdom is the third-largest e-commerce market, only after Japan and the United States. E-commerce is the most recent mainstream retail trend to hit the United Kingdom in the last decade. Despite the fact that e-commerce platforms have been around for a long time, they have only recently gained widespread notice. When compared to the rest of the world, the growth of online shopping in the United Kingdom has been astounding.
E-commerce revenue in the United Kingdom is expected to grow to USD 150 billion in 2022. Also, when it comes to the number of online retail users, according to industry sources, the number of e-commerce users in the United Kingdom is expected to grow to 58.4 million in 2025.
The United Kingdom is one of the early adopters of internet commerce (e-commerce) in the world, with a high penetration rate, and by 2025, the penetration rate is expected to reach 84.2%. With substantial internet shopping in recent years, many new companies have entered the market.
The United Kingdom occupies a one-third share of the European e-commerce market and the highest share of online retailing in the world. The country's B2C e-commerce turnover has been increasing more rapidly than that of its European rivals, Germany and France. The United Kingdom is also one of the global leaders in terms of consumer spending on the internet, and consumers spend more than USD 2730 per head online every year.
UK Parcel Delivery Industry Overview
The United Kingdom courier, express, and parcel (CEP) market is relatively consolidated, with the top four companies occupying a major share of the market. With the growing demand for CEP services in the country, companies are becoming more competitive to capture the huge opportunity by investing in new technologies like Blockchain, WMS, and drones. The international players are making strategic investments to establish a regional logistics network, such as opening of new distribution centers, smart warehouses, etc. The local companies face high competition with multinational companies that have a comparatively well-developed infrastructure. There have been mergers and acquisitions taking place; for instance, in 2021, DPD UK acquired the same-day delivery specialist CitySprint. The acquisition will help DPD to enhance its same-day delivery operation. In 2021, Culina Group announced an agreement to take over GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions. GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions comprises Eddie Stobart, Eddie Stobart Europe, iForce, The Pallet Network, and The Logistics People. The acquisition will significantly help Culina Group to expand its market operations.
UK Parcel Delivery Market Leaders
Royal Mail PLC
DPDgroup
Hermes Parcelnet Ltd
DHL
UPS
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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UK Parcel Delivery Market News
In December 2021, Royal Mail and Ford partnered to trial a new city-friendly approach to parcel delivery in Manchester. The purpose of the trial was to examine whether multi-modal delivery using Ford’s routing software could help Royal Mail increase its foot-based deliveries of larger parcels in urban areas. Ford’s software helped Royal Mail to use fewer vans in the trial area. The software enabled several posties to make deliveries with one vehicle supporting them. It identified safe, convenient locations for the handover of parcels to postmen and postwomen, who then made deliveries to a mix of high-rise, business, and residential buildings.
In September 2021, the consumer parcel delivery specialist Hermes underscored its commitment to an emissions-free future by placing a landmark order for 168 fully electric Mercedes-Benz eSprinters.The company’s first substantial investment in battery-powered vans followed successful trials from a depot in Enfield, north London, of a pair of eSprinter demonstrators supplied by Intercounty Truck & Van.
UK Parcel Delivery Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study Deliverables
1.2 Study Assumptions
1.3 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET INSIGHTS
4.1 Current Market Scenario
4.2 Government Regulations and Initiatives
4.3 Technological Trends and Automation in the CEP Industry
4.4 Insights into the E-commerce Industry (Domestic and Cross-border E-commerce)
4.5 Insights into Startups and Venture Capital Funding in the CEP Industry
4.6 Brief on Courier Rates
4.7 Elaboration on Storage Functions and Value-added Services in the CEP Business
4.8 Insights into Reverse Logistics and Same-day Delivery Market
4.9 Insights into Deliveries during Festive Season (Christmas, Singles' day, Black Friday, etc.)
4.10 Impact of COVID-19 on the CEP Market
5. MARKET DYNAMICS
5.1 Drivers
5.2 Restraints
5.3 Opportunities
5.4 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
5.5 Value Chain/Supply Chain Analysis
6. MARKET SEGMENTATION
6.1 Business
6.1.1 B2B (Business-to-Business)
6.1.2 B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
6.2 Destination
6.2.1 Domestic
6.2.2 International
6.3 End User
6.3.1 Services (BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance))
6.3.2 Wholesale and Retail Trade (E-commerce)
6.3.3 Manufacturing, Construction, and Utilities
6.3.4 Primary Industries (Agriculture and Other Natural Resources)
7. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
7.1 Overview (Market Concentration and Major Players)
7.2 Company Profiles
7.2.1 Royal Mail PLC
7.2.2 DPDgroup
7.2.3 Hermes Parcelnet Ltd
7.2.4 DHL
7.2.5 UPS
7.2.6 FedEx
7.2.7 Yodel
7.2.8 Amazon Logistics
7.2.9 DX Group
7.2.10 Parcelforce*
- *List Not Exhaustive
8. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
9. APPENDIX
10. DISCLAIMER
UK Parcel Delivery Industry Segmentation
CEP stands as an abbreviation for courier, express, and parcel services, which offer logistic services in these areas. The offers of service providers differ in speed, weight, and volume of the packages and the way of carrying out the shipment of goods. The regulations regarding weight and volume allow for strong standardization and offer great potential for automating the service.
The report provides a complete background analysis of the United Kingdom courier, express, and parcel market, which includes an assessment of the economy, emerging trends by segments and regional markets, significant changes in market dynamics, and a market overview, which is covered in the report. The report also covers the impact of COVID-19 on the market.
The United Kingdom courier, express, and parcel (CEP) market is segmented by business (B2B [business-to-business] and B2C [business-to-consumer]), destination (domestic and international), and end user (services [BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance)], wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, construction and utilities, and primary industries [agriculture, and other natural resources]). The report offers the market sizes and forecasts in value (USD billion) for all the above segments.
| Business | |
| B2B (Business-to-Business) | |
| B2C (Business-to-Consumer) |
| Destination | |
| Domestic | |
| International |
| End User | |
| Services (BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance)) | |
| Wholesale and Retail Trade (E-commerce) | |
| Manufacturing, Construction, and Utilities | |
| Primary Industries (Agriculture and Other Natural Resources) |
UK Parcel Delivery Market Research FAQs
How big is the United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market?
The United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market size is expected to reach USD 16.10 billion in 2023 and grow at a CAGR of 7.93% to reach USD 23.59 billion by 2028.
What is the current United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market size?
In 2023, the United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market size is expected to reach USD 16.10 billion.
Who are the key players in United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market?
Royal Mail PLC, DPDgroup, Hermes Parcelnet Ltd, DHL and UPS are the major companies operating in the United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market.
United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel Industry Report
Statistics for the 2023 United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2028 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
United Kingdom Courier, Express, and Parcel Market Report Snapshots
