Optimism, a wave of new builds and record holders

Firstly, the good news: according to the Logistics Indicator published by the Federal Association of Association (BVL) in December 2024, the logistics industry can once again look forward to a brighter future, even though the general situation remains unsettled. Nevertheless, it seems that the market players have accepted geopolitical uncertainty, volatile markets and structural crises as being the new normal.

At the same time, recent figures from DNV, the classification society, show that there is some movement in the break-bulk cargo and project logistics segments. For instance, more than 600 new multipurpose freighters are on the order books to replace the ageing fleet. Last but not least, the Record Institute Germany (RID) has confirmed the records for the “heaviest object transported by road” and – in line with the current mobility revolution – for the “most enduring electric ship”.