Logistics News: Which are the Largest Global and US 3PLs? The Latest List from Armstrong & Associates

The annual lists of the largest global and US 3PLs have once again been released by the analysts at Armstrong & Associates, and as usual European and Asian providers dominate the 10 rankings worldwide, based on 2012 revenues.

In that list, led by DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding with revenues of almost $32 billion, just two US-based companies cracked the top 10. Those were CH Robinson, with sales of $11.3 billion, and UPS Supply Chain Solutions, with revenue of just over $9 billion.

All told, revenues for US 3PLs (including the US operations of 3PLs headquartered in other regions) increased by 6% on a gross basis to $141.8 billion. That "gross number" includes the cost of purchased transportation. On a net basis, with purchases transportation costs deducted out, total US 3PL revenues rose by 4.1%.

That means growth in 3PL spend last year was about flat with overall economic growth. While "real GDP" rose only 1.8% in the US last year, the right comparison to 3PL spend is GDP growth in current dollars, not indexed for inflation, since the Armstrong numbers are not indexed.

So, net US 3PL revenues rose 4.1% in 2012, while US nominal (non-inflation adjusted) GDP rose 4%, implying that 3PLs share of total logistics spend was about flat - quite a change from most years in the last couple of decades.

That flat spend drove the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of US 3PL revenues from 1996 to 2012 down 0.3% percentage points, to 10%. In 2011, gross US 3PL revenues rose about 5%, meaning the growth of 3PL market share seems to have stalled recently, based on 2011-12 data.

"Value added warehouse and distribution" (VAWD) was by far the largest 3PL service area, with net revenues of $27.6 billion that comprised 43% of total net US spend of $63.5 billion.

Rank	Third-Party Logistics Provider	2012 Revenue
1	DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding	$31,639
2	Kuehne + Nagel	$22,141
3	Nippon Express	$20,321
4	DB Schenker Logistics	$19,789
5	C.H. Robinson Worldwide	$11,359
6	Hyundai GLOVIS	$9,832
7	CEVA Logistics	$9,290
8	UPS Supply Chain Solutions	$9,147
9	DSV	$7,759
10	Sinotrans	$7,523
11	Panalpina	$7,060
12	SDV (Bolloré Group)	$7,038
13	Toll Holdings	$6,760
14	Expeditors International of Washington	$5,981
15	Geodis	$5,868
16	DACHSER	$5,670
17	GEFCO	$5,267
18	UTi Worldwide	$4,608
19	Agility	$4,605
20	IMPERIAL Logistics	$3,800
21	Hellmann Worldwide Logistics	$3,593
22	Yusen Logistics	$526
23	Damco	$3,727
24	Kintetsu World Express	$3,155
25	Hub Group	$3,124
26	Burris Logistics	$2,933
27	Schneider Logistics & Dedicated	$2,700
28	Sankyu	$2,689
29	Pantos Logistics	$2,601
30	Kerry Logistics	$2,490
31	Norbert Dentressangle	$2,366
32	Ryder Supply Chain Solutions	$2,280
33	FIEGE Group	$2,090
34	BDP International	$1,895
35	Wincanton	$1,747
36	Neovia Logistics Services	$1,730
37	Menlo Worldwide Logistics	$1,726
38	Logwin	$1,703
39	Nissin Corporation/Nissin Group	$1,609
40	Americold	$1,580
41	APL Logistics	$1,555
42	BLG Logistics Group	$1,540
43	J.B. Hunt Dedicated Contract Services & Integrated Capacity Solutions	$1,536
44	GENCO	$1,476
45	Total Quality Logistics	$1,387
46	Landstar	$1,350
47	Transplace	$1,300
48	OHL	$1,200
49	Werner Enterprises Dedicated & Logistics	$1,090
50	Swift Transportation	$1,058

Source: Armstrong & Associates

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