A large number of companies operate in the sector of freight forwarding services, which operate either as transportation intermediaries or as vertically integrated companies. A good number of companies, in addition to their core business, provide a wide range of related services (e.g. storage, organization and management of stock, packing/unpacking, distribution, etc.).
The value of the market of freight forwarding services (i.e. only the revenues that emanate from freight forwarding services not including revenues from other consequent activities) was on the rise during 2001-2008, registering an average annual rise of approximately 8%. Over the next five years, the market value has been in continuous decline up to 2014 during which there was a rise of 4%. The upward trend of the total market continued in the following years, registering a rise of 5.8% during 2016/2015. A further rise of the market is expected for 2017.
As regards the breakdown of the market by means of transport, road haulage dominates the sector having a share of 60% in 2016, followed by sea freight (17%), while air and rail freight had a share of 14.5% and 5.5% respectively and mixed transportation 3%.