Freight Forwarding: Industry Report

Freight Forwarding

Product Type: Market Research Report
Published by: Key Note Publications Ltd
Published: February 2008
Product Code: R310-1540

Description

In 2006, turnover of the UK international freight services market totalled £18.34bn, of which £14.1bn was attributable to freight forwarding activity. The £18.34bn represented a significant reduction (of 7.4%) in activity compared with the previous year, largely due to the 9.2% decrease in turnover in the freight forwarding sector.

International freight services are defined to include not only freight forwarding, also covering associated transport and warehousing activity, but also the international transport services themselves. These comprise the roll-on, roll-off ferries that serve the road transport sector; the road-vehicle carrying services provided by the Eurotunnel freight shuttle and the rail freight services that also operate through the Channel Tunnel; as well as air and sea transport. Many of these air and sea freight transport services are provided by foreign companies, and the freight forwarding sector accesses these, as well as the services provided by UK-based transport operators, when meeting the needs of exporters and importers.

As measured by turnover, road freight transport is the largest element of the transport principals, followed by sea freight. However, if the activity of foreign-registered shipping companies is taken into account, sea freight becomes by far the largest sector. Air freight, although relatively insignificant in terms of the tonnage carried, has a much higher share of trade measured by value and of total transport operators' turnover. Despite government policies on both sides of the Channel aimed at encouraging its use as a relatively environment-friendly mode, international freight transport by rail has a long way to go before it achieves its full potential.

Recent developments impacting on the freight forwarding sector include the accession to the EU of a number of central and eastern European countries, which took place in 2004 and 2007. As these countries are now part of the Single European Market (SEM), customs regulations that formerly governed the movement of goods between these countries and existing EU member states no longer apply. As such, exporters and importers trading between the UK and these countries no longer require the expertise in this field that freight forwarders provide. Another important development was the decision reached by EU government ministers late in 2006 to repeal the block exemption from restrictive trading practices enjoyed by container shipping lines, in order to bring them in line with the competition rules that apply to most of the rest of the EU transport industry.

Of continuing concern, especially to the many smaller firms in the UK freight forwarding sector, is the burden of regulation, particularly in the field of employment and health and safety legislation, covering matters such as unfair dismissal, equal opportunities, flexible working, the hiring of illegal immigrant workers and illegal mobile telephone use by drivers.

Despite some signs of a slowdown in the global economy, and the risk that developments such as further trade liberalisation and the removal of certain barriers to trade might reduce the need for forwarding expertise, the macro-economic environment is generally favourable to the continued growth of UK international freight services.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
1. Market Definition: REPORT COVERAGE; MARKET SECTORS; MARKET TRENDS; ECONOMIC TRENDS; MARKET POSITION
2. Market Size: THE TOTAL MARKET; BY MARKET SECTOR; INTERNATIONAL TRADE
3. Industry Background: RECENT HISTORY; NUMBER OF COMPANIES; EMPLOYMENT; REGIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE MARKETPLACE; HOW ROBUST IS THE MARKET?; LEGISLATION; KEY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS
4. Competitor Analysis: THE MARKETPLACE; MARKET LEADERS; OUTSIDE SUPPLIERS; MARKETING ACTIVITY
5. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats: STRENGTHS; WEAKNESSES; OPPORTUNITIES; THREATS
6. Buying Behaviour: OVERVIEW
7. Current Issues: THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE FREIGHT FORWARDER; LEGISLATION; EU POLICIES; THE ENVIRONMENT; TECHNICAL ISSUES; CORPORATE ACTIVITY
8. The Global Market: GLOBAL MARKET BACKGROUND; FREIGHT FORWARDING; TRANSPORT PRINCIPALS; THE FUTURE
9. Forecasts: INTRODUCTION; FORECASTS 2007 TO 2011; MARKET GROWTH; FUTURE TRENDS
10. Company Profiles: Agility Logistics Ltd; Allport Ltd; Ceva Freight (uk) Ltd; Davies turner Holdings Plc; Dhl Global Forwarding (uk) Ltd; Exel Freight Management (uk) Ltd; Kuehne + Nagel (uk) Ltd; Nippon Express (uk) Ltd; Panalpina World transport Ltd; Ups Scs (uk) Ltd
11. Further Sources: Associations; Government Publications; Other Sources; Bisnode Sources

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