The sector will exceed 140 billion dollars in 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 3.71% in the period 2024-2030
The Italian logistics market can smile thanks to a constant growth that does not seem to be slowing down even in the coming years. According to the latest data reported by Mordor Intelligence, the value of freight transport and logistics in Italy will exceed 140 billion dollars in 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 3.71% in the period 2024-2030. Also driving the trend will be the increase in retail sales in 2023 (+2.8% on an annual basis) with e-commerce growing by 13% and reaching a value of 47.7 billion dollars. The analysis also highlights Italy’s intention to shift its focus to rail freight transport, investing over $117 billion over the next 10 years and approving investment plans worth $5.8 billion for the development of port infrastructure by 2026. The sector is expected to see many innovations in the coming years, starting with the development of new technologies with artificial intelligence that will increasingly be an ally of companies.
However, the human side will not be forgotten, indeed companies will have to work even harder to be attractive and offer fair working relationships. The future of logistics was discussed at “Innovalab”, the annual convention organized by Due Torri Spa (duetorrispa.it), a Bologna-based company of the Franceschelli Group (also owner of Pallet Network One Express Spa and More Value srl) active in the integrated logistics sector. An event that had double relevance given that on the one hand it was the occasion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Due Torri and on the other it gave rise to a productive debate that brought together speakers and top Italian exponents of the logistics sector. All this within a historic place for the city such as the Renato Dall’Ara stadium, confirming the link between Due Torri and the Bologna area.
“The data that emerged during Innovalab 2024 confirm that the Italian logistics sector is continuously growing and transforming – explains Andrea Franceschelli, vice president and general manager of Due Torri – At a time when, despite global political tensions, there is optimism, logistics must be able to follow the needs of the market and exploit the opportunities that arise, such as possible expansions towards niches and emerging markets and the ever-increasing attention to ESG issues. The theme of sustainability can act as a lever to achieve a more stable business thanks to healthy and responsible management that allows you to lead change without suffering it”.
The round tables organized by Due Torri focused on the logistics trends for 2024 and 2025 as well as the challenges that the sector will be called upon to face. Recent years have been characterized by significant increases in the cost of production factors, in particular energy costs, location fees and the cost of money. In 2021 and 2022, international transport rates showed values significantly above the average of previous years. A picture offered by Damiano Frosi, director of the Contract Logistics Observatory who explained: “Companies have finally realized how important and strategic logistics are. Dramatic events such as the pandemic were necessary first, the war conflicts, the problems related to the Red Sea, all factors that have shown how logistics, a very important economic sector with more than one million four hundred thousand workers, cannot be put on the back burner”.
There is no shortage of reasons to smile, given that third-party logistics has shown an almost uninterrupted growth trend from 2009 to today. If in 2009 the turnover of Italian logistics companies was 71.2 billion euros, in 2023 this figure reached 112 billion euros with a growth of 57%. Numbers that show how logistics companies are an important driving force for the country. Another growing trend concerns retail production companies that rely on third parties to manage their logistics processes. It was 36.4% in 2009 and reached 45.3% in 2021, demonstrating how the role of logistics suppliers is increasingly important for a company. Finally, it is worth highlighting the expansion of the mix of services offered by logistics suppliers, which extends to include activities traditionally considered outside the scope of logistics, such as inventory management and integrated customer service.
A separate chapter instead deserves the topic of technological innovation that is increasingly present in the sector and can support companies in facing the challenge brought by the increase in the costs of production factors. New technologies are being developed that can, for example, predict the variation in demand thanks to artificial intelligence and manage the inventory, to manage the spaces in a warehouse in a dynamic way. But that’s not all: algorithms are being introduced that allow workers to be valorized and loads to be optimized.
In terms of sustainability, we look at routing instead, finding ways to reach a customer with the least environmental impact, and there is growing attention to packaging, which has become one of the key elements both for product quality and for the impact on the environment. The aim is to have reusable and recyclable packaging that takes up less and less space. Social sustainability is also a topic that must be taken into great consideration, innovation and digitalization directly involve logistics personnel. The importance of establishing a direct dialogue with operators and, when possible, involving operational personnel already in the design and development phases emerges.
The 7 challenges that the logistics sector will have to face emerged thanks to the experts of the sector at Innovalab 2024:
1. Process digitalization and AI: they allow to automate tasks, improve routes and traceability by optimizing processes and supply chains.
2. Green Logistics: from making the most of intermodality to fleet renewal, to environmentally friendly packaging.
3. Attractiveness: The logistics sector lacks personnel and must be able to attract workers with adequate salaries and fair working conditions.
4. Infrastructure upgrade: urgently needed to increase the efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of the sector
5. Simplification and uniformity: with the need for equal rules and laws in all regions that do not complicate the work of entrepreneurs, managers and workers
6. Relationship with workers: there is a need for more dialogue and workers must feel more engaged and protected.
7. Flexibility and collaboration: Logistics must be flexible despite the increasingly rigid world of work. Collaboration between customers and suppliers is needed.
