Pharmaceutical Logistics Global Market Report 2024

The pharmaceutical logistics market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $112.31 billion in 2023 to $124.81 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%. Historical growth can be attributed to strict regulatory measures, the globalization of pharmaceutical trade, the development of temperature-controlled logistics, the expansion of e-commerce in the sector, and the overall growth of the healthcare industry.

The pharmaceutical logistics market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $191.18 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2%. Anticipated growth in the upcoming period is driven by the expansion of markets in developing nations, the implementation of risk mitigation strategies, enhancements in supply chain visibility, the overall expansion of the healthcare industry, and advancements in cold chain logistics. Major trends expected in this forecasted period include a heightened focus on security and product integrity, optimization of global supply chain networks, initiatives promoting green logistics, increased demand for real-time monitoring, and the necessity for regulatory compliance.

The surge in demand for pharmaceutical products is anticipated to drive the expansion of the pharmaceutical logistics market in the foreseeable future. Pharmaceutical products, encompassing medicines intended for human consumption in finalized dosage forms and regulated by pharmaceutical legislation, are reliant on efficient logistics for the seamless management of procurement, storage, and transportation processes. As reported by the India Brand Equity Foundation, a government export promotion agency, the Indian pharmaceutical market experienced an annual growth rate of 17.7% in 2021. This robust increase underscores the correlation between the escalating demand for pharmaceutical products and the flourishing pharmaceutical logistics market.

The anticipated rise in healthcare expenditure is poised to propel the expansion of the pharmaceutical logistics market in the future. Healthcare expenditure, denoting the cumulative financial resources allocated by individuals, organizations, or governments over a specified period for healthcare-related goods and services, plays a pivotal role in enhancing pharmaceutical logistics. This increased expenditure facilitates investments in advanced supply chain technologies, ensuring the secure and timely delivery of medications, and optimizing overall efficiency in the distribution process. Notably, in March 2022, the 2021–2030 National Health Expenditure (NHE) report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a US federal agency, revealed that national health spending is expected to witness an average annual growth of 5.1% from 2021 to 2030, reaching a total nearing $6.8 trillion. Furthermore, the report anticipates a 7.2% annual increase in Medicare spending and a 5.6% annual rise in Medicaid spending from 2021 to 2030. Consequently, the heightened healthcare expenditure emerges as a key driver behind the growth of the pharmaceutical logistics market.

Facility expansion has emerged as a prominent trend in the pharmaceutical logistics market, with manufacturers actively investing in the enlargement of their facilities to cater to the evolving logistics demands within the healthcare sector. A case in point is UPS Healthcare, a US-based provider of healthcare logistics, which, in May 2023, inaugurated an expansive 8,700 square meters facility in West Singapore. Strategically located at Gul Circle, with convenient accessibility to PSA Terminals, the manufacturing cluster at Tuas Biomedical Park, and the upcoming seaport at Tuas, this expanded facility is well-positioned to address the current and future logistics needs of businesses in the rapidly growing healthcare sector of the country. The facility is designed to offer supplementary services, including packaging, labeling, return logistics, and local customs brokerage. Notably, it features state-of-the-art temperature-controlled storage capabilities, accommodating healthcare products within a range spanning from -80 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius. UPS Healthcare's expansion initiative reflects a commitment to providing comprehensive and specialized logistics solutions tailored to meet the stringent requirements of the healthcare industry.

Prominent companies in the pharmaceutical logistics market are actively driving innovation, exemplified by the introduction of healthcare logistics services, to expand their customer bases, boost sales, and augment revenue streams. Healthcare logistics services encompass the strategic planning, execution, and management of the efficient and secure movement of healthcare-related goods, equipment, and information across the supply chain. A notable illustration is UPS Healthcare, a US-based healthcare logistics provider, which unveiled UPS Pickup Point locations in October 2023. The UPS Pickup Point locations represent a pioneering reverse logistics service specifically tailored for health laboratory customers across the UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain. This unique offering establishes a comprehensive reverse logistics solution, providing confirmation of collection and real-time visibility for time-sensitive specimens. The service is designed to streamline operations for healthcare companies, reducing the number of collection sites while simultaneously enhancing reliability, control, and the efficient shipment of samples to a central laboratory. UPS Healthcare's innovative healthcare logistics service demonstrates a commitment to meeting the dynamic needs of the industry and improving the overall efficiency of healthcare supply chain operations.

In March 2022, Lineage Logistics LLC, a warehousing and logistics management company headquartered in the United States, successfully acquired MTC Logistics for an undisclosed sum. This strategic acquisition expands Lineage Logistics' portfolio by incorporating four cold storage facilities located along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts. These facilities encompass a total of 38 million cubic feet of storage space and over 113,000 pallet positions. MTC Logistics, a U.S.-based cold storage facility, specializes in catering to the pharmaceutical logistics market.


Major companies operating in the pharmaceutical logistics market report are McKesson Corporation, AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., Deutsche Post AG, FedEx Corp., Kuehne + Nagel International AG, SF Holding Co. Ltd., CR Pharmaceutical Group Ltd., DSV Panalpina A/S, Schenker AG, C.H. Robinson Worldwidwe Inc., Alfresa Holdings Corp., Nippon Express Co. Ltd., Air Canada Inc., Kerry Logistics Network Limited, Lineage Logistics Holding LLC., Flexport Inc., Nichirei Logistics Group Inc., Mainfreight Ltd., Americold Logistics LLC., NFI Industries Inc., Agility Public Warehousing Company K.S.C.P., Profarma Distribuidora de Produtos Farmaceuticos S.A., United States Cold Storage Inc., NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics BV, Cloverleaf Cold Storage Co., Kingworld Medicines Group Ltd, CEVA Logistics AG, Kloosterboer Group BV., MEDIPAL HOLDINGS CORP., B.C. Ice & Cold Storage Co.

North America was the largest region in the pharmaceutical logistics market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the pharmaceutical logistics market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the pharmaceutical logistics market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The primary types of pharmaceutical logistics are cold chain logistics and non-cold chain logistics. Cold chain logistics involves the technology and processes used for the safe transportation of temperature-sensitive goods along the supply chain. Components in pharmaceutical logistics include storage, transportation, and monitoring elements. Operational procedures encompass picking, storage, retrieval systems, and handling systems. Various transportation methods are utilized, including sea freight, air freight, and overland transport. Pharmaceutical logistics services are applied in different sectors, including biopharma, chemical pharma, and specialty pharma, ensuring the safe and effective distribution of pharmaceutical products.

The pharmaceutical logistics market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides pharmaceutical logistics market statistics, including pharmaceutical logistics industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a pharmaceutical logistics market share, detailed pharmaceutical logistics market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the pharmaceutical logistics industry. This pharmaceutical logistics market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The pharmaceutical logistics market includes revenues earned by entities by providing cold chain storage, asset ownership services, and quality management systems. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.