Global Warehousing and Storage Market Size Analysis - Market Share, Forecast Trends and Outlook Report (2024-2032)

Warehousing and Storage Market Analysis

Every business relies on warehouses and storage facilities for effective inventory management. A warehouse serves as a site for housing finished products, raw materials, partially assembled items, and goods being imported or exported. The storage of goods is vital for their availability to end-users as required. At various stages of a product's value chain, a certain volume of goods must be stored.

According to the global warehousing and storage market dynamics and trends, adequate storage arrangements are critical for successful marketing, guaranteeing that products remain in prime condition. Storage also empowers organizations to maintain production levels in anticipation of future demand. Warehouses support uninterrupted production year-round and enable businesses to sell their merchandise whenever demand is strong. According to the International Trade Administration, in 2022, there were over 27 million eCommerce users in Canada, accounting for 75% of the Canadian population. This number is expected to grow to 77.6% in 2025.

Warehousing and Storage Market Trends

Technological Advancements in The Market

One major trend of warehousing and storage market is attributed to a significant rise in automation. Robotics and AI-driven technologies are revolutionising operations, enhancing efficiency, minimising errors, and speeding up order fulfilment within the industry. For instance, Move Robotics, a technology provider in Malaysia, is known for the development of autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles. Its Alpine-Series AMRs are known for improving outdoor efficiency for intra-logistic operations and its AE10 Autonomous Forklift Robot is known for its superior material handling precision and safety.

Warehouses are also embracing modular construction methods for easy adjustments to storage needs. This flexibility enables efficient expansion or reorganisation as business demands evolve. For instance, Unload’s three-dimensional compact box can reduce the wasted areas in aisles, shelves, and above conveyor belts for increasing the storage capacity in storage houses. Incorporating augmented reality (AR) in warehousing boosts productivity by providing hands-free information access, aiding navigation, and aiding in training. AR streamlines tasks reduces errors and enhances warehouse efficiency.

Expansion of the E-commerce Sector

The expansion of online shopping drives demand for smaller, strategically positioned warehouses in urban areas, contributing to the demand of warehousing and storage market. These last-mile facilities facilitate swift deliveries, aligning with customer expectations in the rapid e-commerce environment. For instance, DACHSER opened a new warehouse in Waddinxveen near Rotterdam in the Netherlands. This new warehouse increases the site’s capacity to 55,000 pallet spaces and is built in the industrial area of Waddinxveen, which facilitates the daily transport of goods in Europe.

As per the data by TRAI’s Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators from January to March 2023, internet subscribers in India exceeded 880 million users as of March 2023. The rise in e-commerce shopping is especially prevalent in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India, with around 60% of the total orders from these regions, which boosted the demand for more warehouse and storage facilities to accommodate these orders.

Industry News

January 2024

CJ Logistics America unveiled a new cold storage warehouse in Gainesville, Georgia, with 270,000 sq. ft., led by RL Cold, equipped with Alta EXPERT Refrigeration and QFM blast freezing.

January 2024

Kandal Cold Storage Project, Cambodia's first cross-docking warehouse, was operational along the Mekong River in Kandal province, designed to preserve perishables, utilizing cross-docking for efficient logistics.

Opportunities in Warehousing and Storage Market

The introduction of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies is revolutionising warehouses, providing instant visibility into inventory levels, equipment statuses, and environmental elements. This data-driven approach enhances decision-making, optimises the use of assets, and streamlines operational procedures. As per the IoT analytics, the number of IoT devices across the world is expected to cross 25.44 billion by 2030, with more than 400 active IoT platforms in the market. The total spending on IoT also surpassed the value of USD 1 trillion by 2023, which indicates the growth of IoT in the warehouses as well.

Several major companies are investing in IoT-based warehouses to enhance their performance and further contribute to warehousing and storage market revenue. For instance, Nokia announced a new addition to its Autonomous Inventory Monitoring Service (AIMS) in August 2024, which allows its drones to conduct accurate, item-level inventory counts by mimicking the accuracy of human workers and can address issues such as warehouse storage.

Warehousing and Storage Market Restraints

One of the critical warehouse management challenges is the risk of mismanaged inventory data and incorrect stock counts. For instance, if there were inaccurate stock levels it can result in overstocking or stockouts, which can affect the entire supply chain. Another major challenge often faced by warehouses is poor floorplan efficacy which can lead to insufficient space utilisation and affect their operational efficiency, leading to longer pick times and consequently affecting the warehousing and storage demand forecast.

Poor Process Implementation can further cause delays and errors in the supply chain. For instance, if a warehouse does not have proper procedures for stock replenishment it can cause inventory discrepancies and affect the timely deliveries. As per the industry reports, around 82% of Supply Chain Leaders Experienced at Least one major Supply Chain Disruption in 2022 with around 61% of it caused due to material shortages in the warehouses.

Market Dynamics

The market is witnessing a rise in sustainability efforts as warehouses increasingly adopt eco-friendly practices. This entails implementing energy-saving lighting, integrating solar power, reducing waste, and obtaining green building certifications to reduce environmental effects and decrease operational expenses, which can enhance the growth of the warehousing and storage industry.

As per a 2023 survey by the World Economic Forum, around 60% of logistics companies are increasingly investing in material handling green initiatives. The usage of Efficient and sustainable material handling practices can minimise waste as well as energy consumption and emissions. A 2023 survey by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals further found that around 85% of logistics companies use a waste reduction program. For instance, the implementation of robust recycling programs in warehouses ensures that materials such as cardboard, plastic, and metal, among others, are recycled properly. The usage of composting programs for organic waste generated in the warehouse is another crucial waste reduction program.

Warehousing and Storage Industry Segmentation

Global Warehousing and Storage Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Types of Warehouses

• General Warehousing and Storage
• Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
• Farm Product Warehousing and Storage

Market Breakup by Ownership

• Private Warehouses
• Public Warehouses
• Bonded Warehouses

Market Breakup by End Use

• Manufacturing
• Consumer Goods
• Retail
• Food and Beverage
• IT Hardware
• Healthcare
• Chemicals
• Others 

Market Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

Warehousing and Storage Market Share

By Types of Warehouses Insights

General warehousing and storage drive the global warehousing and storage demand by aiding in inventory organisation and categorisation, simplifying stock tracking and management for enhanced efficiency Storing goods in bulk yields cost advantages from economies of scale. Efficient inventory management enhances order processing speed, boosting customer satisfaction. General warehousing offers seasonal adaptability, security, and efficient space use.

Refrigerated storage preserves perishables, reduces spoilage, adheres to regulations, expands market reach, maintains product quality, and enhances supply chain efficiency for temperature-sensitive items.

By Ownership Insights

Private warehouses are expected to boost the growth of the warehousing and storage market significantly as they offer wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers more control over their inventory management. These warehouses are also popular among companies that need to establish a significant long-term presence in a specific region.

Public warehouses have occupied a substantial share of the market for many years as they are cost-effective options for new, small and seasonal businesses. Several business owners may need a warehouse for short-duration storage and public warehouses offer an optimal solution to them. 

By End Use Insights

Based on end-use, the global warehousing and storage market share is led by manufacturing by storing raw materials for production, ensuring uninterrupted supply chains. Warehousing and storage play a vital role in manufacturing by storing items in progress and finished goods for distribution, maintaining buffer stock to prevent shortages, serving as distribution hubs for timely deliveries, and handling returns for resale.

In healthcare, warehouses store medical supplies, manage temperature-sensitive medications, stock emergency supplies, manage just-in-time deliveries, maintain medical equipment, and adhere to medication storage regulations for safety and efficacy.

Warehousing and Storage Market Regional Insights

North America Warehousing and Storage Market

Based on region, the global market share is led by North America. Government efforts are directed towards building sophisticated warehouses equipped with features such as Web Map Service (WMS) for monitoring expiration dates, barcode scanning, order fulfilment, and enhanced inventory management. Additionally, the expanding eCommerce industry is driving the need for upgraded storage infrastructure and contributing to the warehousing and storage market value. 

Around 38% of US companies have plans to add more (stock keeping unit) SKUs and barcode scanners for inventory accuracy and to improve the overall efficiency of warehouse operations. As per a report from CBRE, warehouse rents in some parts of the United States witnessed an increase of 20% from the fourth quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022, affecting warehouse and storage solutions. 

Asia Pacific Warehousing and Storage Market

In Asia Pacific, market growth is driven by government projects to enhance technology, infrastructure, and taxation for warehousing. Many manufacturing and distribution centres are adopting automated processing for operational efficiency and boosting the warehousing and storage industry revenue. For instance, Maersk announced the opening of a new warehouse in Sri Lanka at Wattala on April 2024. This warehouse can enhance the company’s presence in the region and boost the growth of the logistics sector. 

As per the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, the Indian e-commerce sector has been steadily progressing. In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Government e-marketplace (GeM) achieved its highest Gross Merchandise Value ever, reaching USD 2011 billion.

Europe Warehousing and Storage Market

The market growth in the region is driven by the expansion of supermarkets and hypermarkets as well as retail chains.  Small supermarkets in the region have witnessed a growth of 49% in turnover. The grocery sales in the region also witnessed an increase of 8.6% in 2023 compared to the previous year. These positive trends in the region boosted the warehousing and storage demand.

Favourable government initiatives in the market to enhance supply chain resiliency are another crucial factor enhancing warehousing and storage market opportunities. For instance, under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) law in Europe, companies with more than 1,000 employees and a turnover of at least €450 million need to address and reduce environmental and human rights risks in their supply chain.

Latin America Warehousing and Storage Market

The market is expected to grow significantly in the upcoming years as several e-commerce companies are readily investing in warehouses, logistics networks and distribution centres across the region and enhancing the warehousing and storage demand growth. One of the major online marketplaces,  MercadoLibre, has plans to invest around USD 4.62 billion in Brazil in 2024, up 21% from 2023, with a large amount of investment aimed at improving its storage and delivery capacities. Another major e-commerce company, Shopee, based in Singapore, opened its 11th distribution centre in Brazil to increase the delivery capacity of its warehouses and meet the rising demand of consumers. 

Middle East and Africa Warehousing and Storage Market

Rising investments in smart warehouses in the region are a major factor boosting the market growth. For instance, the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) signed a deal in Jeddah to develop 14 new high-tech warehouses that are based on a public-private sector partnership model.

As per the warehousing and storage industry analysis, the report published by Checkout.com in October stated that around 91% of Saudi consumers shop online and around 14% reported they shop at least once a day. This has greatly boosted the demand for efficient warehouses and storage capacities in the region. 

Innovative Warehousing and Storage Startups

Several startups in the market are developing autonomous robots that streamline picking, sorting, and packing processes. These robots reduce dependency on manual labour and improve efficiency, making warehousing operations faster and more cost-effective. They are also leveraging AI to develop smart warehouses where inventory management, demand forecasting, and labour planning are optimised using data-driven insights. AI enables real-time decision-making to enhance warehouse operations.

Flexe

Flexe is a leading startup in the on-demand warehousing space, offering flexible storage solutions to businesses without the need for long-term contracts. The company connects businesses with warehouses that have excess capacity, enabling them to scale storage as needed. Its platform helps companies manage overflow inventory, and seasonal spikes, and fulfill orders faster by tapping into a network of warehouses across the U.S. It serves e-commerce brands, retailers, and consumer goods companies.

Stord

Stord is another major startup in warehousing and storage market that operates in the cloud supply chain space, offering an end-to-end logistics platform that integrates warehousing, freight, and fulfilment services. Stord provides businesses with a cloud-based platform to manage and optimise their supply chain operations seamlessly. It offers companies scalable warehousing solutions, enabling them to store products in strategic locations and improve inventory management.

Competitive Landscape 

Market players are increasing the global warehousing and storage market by aiding international trade and promoting business growth on a global scale. Several companies are integrating advanced warehouse management systems (WMS), robotics, AI, and IoT technologies to improve efficiency, reduce labour costs, and enhance real-time inventory management as automation is especially prominent in large-scale operations where companies are looking to minimise manual processes.

Key Industry Players

DHL International GmbH, founded in 1969 in the USA, leads the global logistics sector. Operating with 600,000 staff across 220 nations, they facilitate international trade and support worldwide business expansion.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. established in the USA in 1905, offers a diverse array of freight transportation, logistics, outsourcing, and sourcing solutions to a broad clientele exceeding 90,000 worldwide.

CEVA Logistics, founded in France in 2007, is a premier third-party logistics provider renowned for its transportation and supply chain solutions. They serve national and multinational corporations with dependable and efficient services.

DSV A/S, founded in Denmark in 1976, acts as the parent company for three main divisions: DSV Air & Sea, DSV Road, and DSV Solutions. They deliver comprehensive logistics services worldwide, emphasizing global reach and top-notch quality.

Other key players in the global warehousing and storage market are FedEx Corporation, Ryder System, Inc., NFI Industries, XPO, Inc., and AWL India Pvt Limited among others.

Recent Developments

January 2024

Continental launched a fully automated high-bay warehouse at the Otrokovice, Czech Republic tyre plant, storing over 930,000 tyres, optimising logistics and reducing CO2 emissions.

October 2023

Finolex Cables, a prominent Indian electrical and communication cables manufacturer, unveiled its new 40,000-square-foot warehouse in Nelamangala, Bengaluru, enhancing logistics and operational capacity.

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Warehousing and Storage Market Report Snapshots

Warehousing and Storage Market Size

Warehousing and Storage Market Trends

Warehousing and Storage Companies

Warehousing and Storage Market Regional Analysis