Mathilde Carlier
Research Expert covering transportation and logistics
Parcel market in the United Kingdom - statistics & facts
The parcel industry is booming, especially in recent years due to the rapid evolution of e-commerce. Online commerce in the UK has grown exponentially in recent years, and even more so in the context of the pandemic. People are buying everything online from food to clothing and gadgets, while courier companies are reporting record numbers of parcels delivered.
An industry that has exploded in recent years
The UK parcel industry has seen a considerable increase in the last years. If in 2013, the courier market generated revenue of 6.9 billion British pounds, seven years later, the UK parcel market was worth almost 14 billion British pounds, which is more than two times higher. In 2020, during the restrictions period imposed by the government to limit the spread of the coronavirus, domestic volume increased by over 50 percent.The coronavirus pandemic has increased the number of online orders
The coronavirus pandemic had a positive impact on the courier market because it has not only generated an increase in revenue, but also changed the behavior of many shoppers, as many consumers decided to switch to online shopping. However, the inconvenience caused by delays in delivery times or the damage of products causes consumers to be more cautious when it comes to choosing courier companies.Royal Mail leads the top parcel service companies
Royal Mail is the leading courier company in the United Kingdom. First established in 1516 as part of the English government, the multinational postal and parcel service company is one of the well-known and long-lasting British brands, with a total fleet of 50,800 vehicles and annual revenue of over 12.6 billion British pounds. Meanwhile, Amazon Logistics is emerging as a big player in the UK parcel market; in 2020, the U.S. company generated 2.4 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in the UK, a 61 percent increase compared to the previous year.
