Best Freight Forwarders Companies in Germany
The 223 best Freight Forwarders companies in Germany in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Hapag-Lloyd.
Ranking Germany's Freight Forwarders by disclosed equity funding cuts through the noise fast. Across 223 companies tracked here, total disclosed funding reaches $409M, and one name accounts for most of it: Hapag-Lloyd sits at $365M, making every other filer look modest by comparison. Contargo comes in at $18M, Tx Logistik and RBH Logistics both at $9M. So the funding pool isn't evenly spread, it's concentrated, and you should read this list with that in mind.
The global freight forwarding market was valued at roughly $192.5B in 2021 and is forecast to reach $285.1B by 2031, compounding at 4.3% annually on the back of e-commerce growth and ongoing digital transformation. I'd note that stricter environmental regulations are starting to reshape route economics across European corridors, which adds a structural wrinkle to any growth projection. Freight delivery apps are also seeing median install growth of around 17% year-over-year across 18 tracked platforms, a signal that end-user demand isn't softening. Coverage themes are shifting too, with container freight rates and port-centric logistics drawing the most analytical attention right now. What does that mean for mid-tier German forwarders without institutional backing? Probably more pressure to specialize, and fast.
- ResearchAndMarkets.com
Our analysis of 100 Freight Forwarders companies
$9.9b in tracked funding; 81% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2021.
Ranked: Best Freight Forwarders companies in Germany
| # | Company | Last round | Disclosed funding | Employees | Founded | Founder | Tech stack | Market signals (1y) | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DHL IT Services Deutsche Post delivers mail and parcels in Germany. | — | — | 750 | 1969 | — | Apple iCloud MailSalesforcestyled-components+10 | 54 signals Buyback · Announcements · Contracts | — | — |
| 2 | 17111 Logistik Provider of logistic services based in Osterrönfeld, Germany. | — | — | 100 | 1947 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | AB Transport & Service Provider of air, sea, and rail freight forwarding services | — | — | 11 | 2012 | Andreas Books CEO | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | ABC-Logistik Provider of freight forwarder and logistics services | — | — | 270 | 1997 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Aerologic Aero Operator of scheduled and charter air cargo transportation services globally | — | — | 310 | 2007 | — | Apple iCloud MailVuetifyVue.js+15 | — | — | 3 job openings |
| 6 | Alltrade TOPO International trading company providing road freight forwarding services | — | — | — | 1994 | — | — | — | 9 patents Modular furniture, workbench, seating, and tent‑assembly hardware with cable‑tensioning accessories. | — |
| 7 | AOP Provider of air & ocean freight forwarding services | — | — | — | 2005 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | ARCESE KECH Logistics Provider of logistics services. The company offers procurement logistics, distribution, cargo and milk-run… | — | — | 182 | 1983 | — | — | — | — | — |
Top 12 Freight Forwarders companies in Germany
#1
Funding Raised · Duisburg, North Rhine Westphalia · founded 2004 · 267 employees$18.5Mraised▾
Provider of freight forwarding services for road, rail, and sea transport
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$179.7K
- May 2023Grant (prize money)$4.8M
- Mar 2023Grant (prize money)$3.6M
- Mar 2023Grant (prize money)$9.5M
#2
Public · Hamburg, Hamburg · founded 1997 · 1520 employees$365Mraised▾
Hapag Lloyd is a transportation and logistics company based in Germany. The company specializes in the maritime transportation of containerized cargo. The company operates its own fleet of vessels and containers.
- Jun 2019Conventional Debt$113.2M
- Nov 2014Conventional Debt$250M
- Dec 2011Grant (prize money)$451.3K
- May 2011Grant (prize money)$71.8K
#3
Funding Raised · Gladbeck, North Rhine Westphalia · founded 2006 · 572 employees$9.3Mraised▾
RBH Logistics is a reliable logistics partner specializing in freight transportation services. As a 100% subsidiary of DB Cargo AG, the company offers a range of transportation solutions, including bulk material transport, to its clients. With a focus on efficient and punctual delivery, RBH Logistics provides customized logistics solutions to meet the needs of its customers.
- Dec 2022Grant (prize money)$9.3M
#4
Series A · Wetzlar, State of Hessen · founded 2006 · 377 employees$6.4Mraised▾
Provider of freight forwarding and logistics services
- Oct 2022Series A$6.4M
#5
Funding Raised · Aachen, North Rhine Westphalia · founded 2020$361.6Kraised▾
Provider of web-enabled transportation management system. It is a logistics company that offers solution for road freight transportation with relay traffic. Their IT solution enables cross-company relay transportation, managing capacity utilization and enabling transport companies to collaborate.
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$361.6K
#6
Funding Raised · Troisdorf, North Rhine Westphalia · founded 1999 · 1200 employees$9.5Mraised▾
Provider of multi freight transportation and logistic services
- Apr 2019Grant (prize money)$2.7M
- Sep 2016Grant (prize money)$876.4K
- May 2015Grant (prize money)$1.7M
- Oct 2014Grant (prize money)$4.3M
#7
Funding Raised · Troisdorf, North Rhine Westphalia · founded 1990 · 260 employees$243.9Kraised▾
Provider of logistics services. The company is engaged providing beer, soft drinks, fruit juices and mineral waters delivery, supply and catering services to the beverage industry.
- Mar 2022Grant (prize money)$243.9K
#8
Public · Hamburg, Hamburg · founded 1953 · 990 employees—raised▾
Provider of intralogistics solutions including material handling equipment and related services. The company offers a portfolio encompassing forklifts, automated systems, and associated support. These offerings address material flow challenges and sustainability goals for various operations. The business provides tailored solutions designed to meet specific customer requirements.
#9
Public · Mannheim, Baden-wurttemberg · founded 1926 · 18019 employees—raised▾
Leading plant-based sweetening solutions provider, offering beet sugar products and services. The company is a prominent beet sugar manufacturer, delivering a wide array of standard sugars and specialty products. They cater to diverse industries, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and animal feed. Their offerings include crystalline sugars, fondants, liquid products, and non-food applications like BeetKraft® for paper and packaging. They focus on sustainable practices, including regenerative agriculture and emissions reduction. They provide services such as application technology, product development, and logistical excellence. They foster collaborative innovation through platforms like theBarn. They offer organic beet sugar and sucrose-based excipients. They aim to create value for businesses through their beet sugar solutions and sweetening alternatives. They provide a solution finder and download center for product information and certifications. They also offer a newsletter subscription for market trends and updates.
#10
Funding Raised · Kempten, Bavaria · founded 1930 · 201 employees—raised▾
Provider of global transport, warehousing, and supply chain management services. The company facilitates distribution and procurement logistics through its network. It offers industry-specific solutions, including food logistics. The company focuses on professional development opportunities and provides training programs.
#11
Acquired · Germany · founded 1912 · 158 employees—raised▾
Provider of global logistics services including transport, warehousing, and supply chain. The company offers air, sea, road, and rail transport options. Warehousing solutions include locations and innovations. Port logistics services encompass agency and locations. Commodity logistics handles raw materials, high-tech, consumer, bulk, dangerous, and recyclable goods. Digital solutions cover document management, supply chain visibility, and customs.
#12
Public · Hamburg, Hamburg · founded 1885 · 6312 employees—raised▾
Provider of port handling, hinterland transport, container, and logistics services
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
How research on Logistics & Supply Chain Tech is moving in Germany
A read on the academic research around Logistics & Supply Chain Tech — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 169 Germany-affiliated papers.
- RWTH Aachen University17
- Technical University of Munich16
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V.12
- Technische Universität Berlin8
- Universität Hamburg6
- Fleet management3→6
- Fleet management13→18
- Supply chain optimization2→7
- Electrification1→4
- Truck4→6
- Service (business)4→6
- Transport engineering1→5
- Fleet management2→5
Where logistics supply chain is researched across Germany
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing logistics supply chain patents in Germany
Germany logistics supply chain patent filing is cooling — 167 filings from 298 assignees (2016–2025), led by Telair INT, Airbus Operations, Airbus; annual filings 20→16.
- Telair INT66
- Airbus Operations56
- Airbus25
- Wittenstein18
- Deutsche POST18
- Knorr Bremse Systeme16
- Huber Thomas16
- Siemens16
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.