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Our expert
Ingo Bauer
Transport, Logistics and Tourism Industry Leader at PwC Germany
Tel: +49 201 438-1107
E-Mail
On this site you will find our semi-annual analyses on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances in the transport and logistics industry. “Transport & Logistics Barometer” is an elevated version of the former M&A Reports (until 2019). All issues are available for download here.
Digital transformation, new players, changing business models: transport and logistics are in a state of flux. What impact do deals have on the industry? How is digitalisation changing the face of an entire industry? With our Transport & Logistics Barometer, we provide answers – and not just to these questions. The Barometer provides a 360-degree view of the entire industry and analyzes what impact social change and global megatrends are having on the industry.
“The transport and logistics industry was not spared from the array of crises and the tense overall economic situation that came to define 2022. In particular, fuel prices, the impact of China’s Covid policy and the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine caused difficulties for companies in the sector, especially in terms of cost management.”
The ongoing war in Ukraine, high prices for energy and fuel, and the impact of China’s Covid policy kept the transport and logistics industry very busy in 2022, and noticeably inhibited deal activity in the sector: between January and December 2022, deal activity declined by 19 per cent compared to what was a very strong previous year, with 261 deals worth a total of US$181.3 billion. The subdued development in mergers and acquisitions was felt in all regions of the world – except in Africa, where a slight increase was recorded.
In contrast, the participation of strategic investors in deal activity continued to grow – in 2022, it was 52 per cent (2021: 44 per cent) – while financial investors continue to hold back due to rising interest rates. Investors mainly targeted Logistics and Trucking: 44 per cent of all deal announcements were in this sub sector. Infrastructure targets such as ports or roads were also particularly in demand.
Transport and logistics companies, especially large shipping companies, used acquisitions in 2022 to expand their core business and gain greater transparency and control in global value chains.
For 2023, PwC experts anticipate transport and logistics companies to continue to pursue mergers and acquisitions, in order to diversify risks, render supply chains more resilient and expand their own portfolios. In particular, critical infrastructure targets, such as ports and terminals, but also warehouses, should continue to gain in appeal. However, the outlook is subject to strong uncertainty, especially against the backdrop of a looming recession in 2023.