Third-Party Logistics in the UK - Industry Market Research Report

Well managed: In 2023-24, revenue is forecast to pick up as business confidence improves, supporting spending on 3PL services

Retail expenditure, including bricks-and-mortar, e-commerce and industrial production, are key drivers of demand for Third-Party Logistics (3PL) providers. The industry manages procurement, fulfilment and distribution. It offers value-added services like customs brokerage, which broadly protects it from significant revenue shocks, given the wide-ranging and crucial nature of the services provided. The COVID-19 pandemic hit revenue with a large share of companies operating at lower capacities or having to declare force majeure on some clients. However, e-commerce boomed as stay-at-home orders encouraged people to shop online from their own homes, driving strong demand for 3PL services from online retailers. As global supply chains reopened, there was a revival in logistics market activity across the board as companies sought 3PL providers to increase the agility and reliability of their supply chain.

Third-party logistics (3PL) companies afford clients’ outsourced logistics services. These firms provide integrated supply chain management solutions which include procurement, fulfilment, warehousing, distribution and value-added ancillary logistics services, such as customs brokerage and supply chain system consultancy. 3PL providers tailor and incorporate their services into their customers’ supply chains based on clients’ bespoke logistics needs.

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.