Parcel volumes in Germany have increased slightly
Due to a high demand in online trading, Germany's package volume is growing slightly again. In the past year, 4.175 billion shipments were processed and this represents a 0.6% increase compared to 2022, according to a study by the Federal Association of Parcel and Express Logistics (BPEX).
In 2022, there was a significant decrease of 7.9%, which was due to the end of the Corona pandemic and the subsequent decline in online orders.
At first, it looked like a continuation of the downward trend in the first half of 2023. However, in the second half of the year, shipment volumes picked up again. The parcel industry experienced a boom during Corona times, with the number of shipped items increasing by 11.2% in 2021.
The business development varied in the different market segments in the previous year: For B2C (Business to Consumer) shipments, which companies send to consumers, there was a clear upward trend. This was due to collective bargaining leading to higher wages and salaries, and the private consumption remained stable - people therefore ordered relatively a lot online, resulting in many packages being sent out. On the other hand, the volume of B2B (Business to Business) shipments decreased, as the economy was weak and companies needed fewer spare parts and other goods for their business.
The average package quantity sent per shipment in the B2C segment saw an increase, contributing to the overall growth in shipment volumes. This increase represents a notable 2% rise compared to 2022 data.
Consequently, German parcel companies have reported a 3% improvement in their package quantity efficiency, demonstrating a positive response to the increasing consumer demand.
