January 2026 – Admittedly, the recent announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to introduce a kind of “penalty tax” for certain countries because they do not support his desire for the USA to take over Greenland is not a positive development for the logistics industry. On the other hand, logistics today is one of the pillars of a modern economy, and Trump is unlikely to change that. In any case, logistics – which we benefit from every day – is one of the most interesting sectors because it is undergoing a strong transformation. Because of the United States’ new trade policy, transport routes are shifting. Trade between Europe and the United States is shrinking, while commerce with the Far East is booming. This also means that freight ports, the “nodes” of global trade, are flourishing in Asia. The ten largest ports in the world are now all located in Asia, seven of them in China alone. Another driver of change is climate change and new legislation, which force logistics operators to adopt new technologies. Cargo ships are being fueled with methanol, trucks are running on electric motors, and cargo bicycles are making a comeback in city centers.
Nevertheless, a shift in transport routes and new mobility concepts represent only a small part of the transformation affecting the logistics sector. As in few other industries, logistics sees a multitude of intersecting trends that are fundamentally reshaping the business and generating new growth, regardless of what is decided in the White House. These trends include, among others, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, drones and robotics.
Trends that are transforming the logistics industry
Autonomous Driving: Trucks that can navigate roads on their own, without a driver on board, are far from fantasy. Early prototypes and trials already exist, even though they are not yet approved for public roads. That approval will come. The benefits are clear: a significant cost reduction because drivers are no longer needed, and a 24‑hour utilization of trucks, as rest‑time regulations would no longer apply.
Artificial Intellgigence: AI not only underpins autonomous driving but already helps optimize transport routes and avoid empty runs.
Drones: “What a hassle,” a driver might think, “the package has to go to the tenth floor.” No problem – clamp the parcel under the drone and lift off. Science‑fiction? Not at all. Almost all large parcel carriers that operate their own logistics networks are working on drone deliveries. The drones fly autonomously through traffic‑congested cities and deliver parcels on time. Drone delivery also works well in rural areas, eliminating the need for a courier to drive many kilometers just to deliver a single package.
Robotics: Trucks powered by hydrogen or electric motors already exist, and fleet conversions are progressing rapidly. That is only one side of the coin. In big cities, a mode of transport that was common in the past is re‑emerging: the cargo bicycle. It can weave through pedestrian zones and bypass every traffic jam. Equipped with autonomous‑driving technology, AI and an electric motor, the cargo bike becomes a self‑operating robot. Some of these robots may even look human‑like, although that is not a requirement.
Mergers and acquisitions – an additional “treat”
It is evident that the logistics sector is accumulating a multitude of technological innovations. Logistics is, in a sense, a playground where technology, developed in “labs,” must prove itself in everyday operations and is continuously pushed forward. Similar dynamics can be observed in other sectors, such as agriculture, but logistics has another “treat” to offer, especially on the stock market: mergers & acquisitions (M&A). As the top‑20 logistics companies currently control only 30 % to 40 % of the market, a wave of takeovers is almost inevitable. Ultimately, there will likely be only a handful of logistics conglomerates that dominate global trade. This consolidation concerns not only traditional road transport but also shipping lines, airlines and e‑commerce fulfilment firms.
For investors there are several ways to participate in the changes reshaping the logistics industry, for example through products that give exposure to leading worldwide logistics operators such as Kühne + Nagel (Switzerland), Deutsche Post (Germany), Fedex and UPS (United States), and AP Møller-Mærsk (Denmark).