As we approach the end of 2024, we’ve begun looking forward to 2025 and what the freight forwarding industry may look like. The logistics and freight market is constantly evolving, presenting shippers and carriers with challenges that they must navigate and overcome. 2024 has presented plenty of these challenges, and it seems as though we’ll be carrying some of these over to 2025.
From ongoing global and political events to supply and demand fluctuations, 2024 has highlighted the need for businesses to have strong and adaptive supply chains. In an industry where change is constant, the need to adapt and keep up with emerging trends is crucial for success. We’ve rounded up 5 of the key trends that we expect to see in 2025 to help businesses stay ahead and remain competitive.
The impact that freight transport has on the environment has been a trending topic for several years now. We all know that air freight has a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions, contributing 80 times more carbon than sea or road freight does. Developing solutions to decrease this number have become a big part of carriers strategies however, and greener, more sustainable options are beginning to be used. We can expect to see more of this in 2025 as more countries adopt sustainable policies.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a promising alternative that has grown in popularity over the past few years, seeing many countries and airlines invest in the market. For example, Air France-KLM has signed an agreement to use up to 1.5 million tonnes of SAF over a 10-year period, up until 2035. Additionally from 1st January 2025, the UK is introducing a SAF mandate, starting at 2% of total UK jet fuel demand and rising on a linear basis to 10% by 2030.
Investment in electric and zero-emission vehicle fleets is also growing and in the U.S., fleet operators are transitioning to hydrogen powered trucks. These advancements highlight the industry’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
You can’t go anywhere without hearing about AI, and the freight and logistics industry is no exception. AI advancements have been evolving in recent years to streamline the shipping process and provide more efficient shipping routes. AI tools can be used to forecast demand and provide predictive analytics, allowing freight forwarders to anticipate delays and help their customers plan accordingly.
It’s expected that we’ll see more companies adopting these technologies in 2025 in order to optimise their supply chains, reduce costs and improve their delivery times. Not only is AI being incorporated into freight operations, but logistics companies are using automated technology to improve the sorting and packing process. UPS has recently unveiled its Smart Package Smart Facility, which uses RFID technology to automatically track packages and reduce sorting and delivery errors. DHL has also launched an automated sorting system in Hong Kong to support the growing demands of air cargo, handling over 50,000 shipments a day. These approaches could set new standards within the industry and see other logistics companies follow suit.
2024 has really highlighted the need for businesses to have a strong supply chain resilience and be able to adapt when necessary. This past year we’ve seen the crisis in the Red Sea evolve, the Ukraine-Russia war continue, dock workers strike across crucial ports and the ecommerce market boom, causing disruptions and challenges across the industry. As a result of these events, businesses have had to adapt their supply chain strategies to remain competitive, including bringing shipments forward or choosing air freight as their preferred transport method to mitigate the lengthy sea freight delays.
The Red Sea crisis and Ukraine-Russia war show no signs of ending soon and U.S. dock workers are set to potentially strike again in January. As ecommerce demand continues to surge, these logistical challenges are likely to continue into 2025. If businesses haven’t already prioritised supply chain resilience and put a strategy in place to navigate these challenges, then the new year is the time to adopt one.
2024 has seen a big growth in ecommerce purchases, with the majority of these goods being shipped from Asia, home to popular online retailers Temu and Shein which have risen in popularity over the last year. With air freight being the preferred transport mode out of Asia due to fast delivery times, this has put an increased demand on the service and a strain on capacity. This growth in demand has shaped logistic strategies in the last few months of 2024, with businesses seeking alternative methods to move their goods.
The ecommerce market is set to continue to grow into 2025 as online shopping remains popular with consumers. For ecommerce businesses in particular, they’ll need to seek robust logistics solutions including optimised warehouse solutions, efficient returns processes and improvements to last-mile delivery.
5 Freight Forwarding Trends To Watch Out In For 2025It’s expected that in 2025, customers will play a central role in shaping logistics strategies. With freight volumes likely to remain high into the new year, businesses must prioritise their customer satisfaction with faster delivery times, easier returns processes and reliable services. To meet these demands, freight forwarders are enhancing their offerings by providing clients with end-to-end visibility of their shipments and real-time tracking solutions. This allows businesses to take control of their supply chain and enables them to plan effectively to match consumer demand. With real-time tracking tools, they can stay up to date with the status of their inventory shipments and prepare for new stock, anticipate delays and keep customers informed.
As we enter 2025, it’s clear that the freight forwarding and logistics industry will continue to develop at a fast pace. From new AI and automated technologies entering the market to navigating ever-changing supply chain challenges, the industry faces both an exciting and challenging time. By staying informed of these trends and emerging news stories, businesses can adapt their strategies to remain competitive.
At Jenkar Shipping, we understand the complexities of navigating the global logistics landscape and are dedicated to helping businesses streamline their logistics operations to keep their supply chains running smoothly. Our expert team is on hand to provide personalised, friendly and helpful solutions, no matter your freight query.
Let us be your trusted freight forwarding partner in 2025 and help you build a resilient and efficient supply chain with our seamless shipping solutions. Contact a member of our team today to discover what we can do for you.
Stay up to date with the latest trends, news and updates in the freight forwarding industry to ensure that your logistics operations are always optimised for efficiency.
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