Martin Placek
Research expert covering transportation and electronics
U.S. courier, express and parcel market - statistics & facts
The Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) market comprises companies that provide logistics and courier services for delivering messages, packages, and mail. These companies differ from ordinary mail services due to their speed, security, tracking, and individualization of services. Moreover, CEP companies offer delivery of unusual parcels that require special handling or parcels that are too big to be delivered by regular postal services.
CEP companies in the United States (U.S.) delivered over 19.5 billion parcels in 2022. That year, the CEP industry generated some 136.6 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in the U.S. market. Both parcel volume and revenue dropped slightly in 2022 compared with the previous year, by two and five percent, respectively. The U.S. CEP market is controlled by a few companies, namely the United Parcel Service, FedEx, and United States Postal Service (USPS).
Revenues from retail e-commerce increased at an even higher rate in the U.S. Between 2019 and 2023, revenues increased by 78 percent from 375.9 billion U.S. dollars to 669.5 billion U.S. dollars. The popularity of retail e-commerce is projected to keep growing in the coming years, resulting in a higher demand for CEP services.
UPS’ largest competitor in the U.S. is FedEx, which holds a 33 percent share of the local CEP market. FedEx’s total revenue reached 90 billion U.S. dollars in its 2023 fiscal year, a four-percent decrease year-on-year.
CEP companies in the United States (U.S.) delivered over 19.5 billion parcels in 2022. That year, the CEP industry generated some 136.6 billion U.S. dollars in revenue in the U.S. market. Both parcel volume and revenue dropped slightly in 2022 compared with the previous year, by two and five percent, respectively. The U.S. CEP market is controlled by a few companies, namely the United Parcel Service, FedEx, and United States Postal Service (USPS).
The boom in e-commerce drives parcel shipping
The growth of e-commerce and the COVID-19 pandemic have altered consumer behavior, leading to more online orders and a subsequent increase in demand for parcel shipping. The volume of parcels shipped in the U.S. grew by almost 61 percent between 2014 and 2022, from 13.2 to 21.2 billion parcels shipped in the country.Revenues from retail e-commerce increased at an even higher rate in the U.S. Between 2019 and 2023, revenues increased by 78 percent from 375.9 billion U.S. dollars to 669.5 billion U.S. dollars. The popularity of retail e-commerce is projected to keep growing in the coming years, resulting in a higher demand for CEP services.
UPS is leading the U.S. parcel market
In 2023, the United Parcel Service (UPS) held a 37 percent share of the U.S. CEP market, the largest share of all CEP companies operating in the U.S. That year, UPS generated a revenue of almost 91 billion U.S. dollars. About 66 percent of UPS’ total revenue was generated by its domestic segment by delivering packages in the U.S.UPS’ largest competitor in the U.S. is FedEx, which holds a 33 percent share of the local CEP market. FedEx’s total revenue reached 90 billion U.S. dollars in its 2023 fiscal year, a four-percent decrease year-on-year.
