46.5 billion USD! European e-commerce platform logistics investment will reach a new high

Due to the rapid development of online shopping, European logistics investment increased to US$46.5 billion, the highest level in the seven years since 2013.

Last month, online trading portal Comparison released research data on the European e-commerce logistics market. In its analysis, the website predicted that by the end of 2021, the total investment in European logistics will reach 38.64 billion euros.

The website stated that the e-commerce industry in Europe has achieved breakthrough development during the epidemic, and the use of warehouses has reached a new high, which has further stimulated the development of the logistics industry. Among European countries, the UK has surpassed other countries in the use of warehouses and is in a leading position.

At the same time, the website's research data shows that faced with the explosive growth of the e-commerce logistics industry, logistics supply chains around the world have encountered challenges and problems have arisen, such as container shortages, long waiting times and high delivery costs. On the one hand, this has driven high demand for warehouses in various places, and on the other hand, it has led to a rapid increase in logistics investment levels.

With the increase in orders on e-commerce platforms, many companies choose to find warehouses and prepare goods in advance before the logistics process in order to complete orders quickly. Container leasing activities in Europe increased by 69% in 2020, and the total warehouse area of ​​​​the agreements signed reached 11 million square feet.

Currently, the companies that have signed leasing agreements in European countries mainly include Amazon, XPO Logistics, DHL Logistics and China's SF Express. This is also the first time that SF Express has signed an e-commerce logistics leasing agreement in Europe.

Comparative Acciones said that the main leaders driving the trend of logistics investment include Amazon and Alibaba, as well as third-party logistics service providers. In the fourth quarter of last year, cross-border e-commerce developed rapidly, and Cainiao's financial report data showed that Cainiao Logistics revenue increased by 51% to US$1.74 billion.

Alibaba's international e-commerce wholesale revenue grew 53% to $577 million during the fourth quarter of 2020. On the other hand, Comparisons also revealed that Amazon's international business revenue grew 50% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, driven by the holiday shopping boom.

As e-commerce business develops at an unstoppable pace in Europe, mainstream cross-border e-commerce platforms will further increase their investment in logistics. In the new year, the European logistics market will have a more systematic and sustainable development environment.

Cross-border e-commerce market

European Market

logistics