Helpful UK Delivery & Courier Statistics For Your Business
Here are some of the top, most useful UK delivery & courier statistics that you should know
The UK delivery and courier industry has grown immensely over the years. From having multiple delivery systems in place to the growth and dominance of the Royal Mail to the now popular two day delivery guarantee, the UK delivery and courier sector has witnessed significant growth and changes.
An excellent delivery and courier system is one of the most important aspects of any business, especially in today’s day and age where customers need you to deliver orders in the shortest possible time. If you are not working with a company that provides top-notch delivery services, it can be challenging for you to stand out from your competition and make a mark in the industry.
Teaming up with a leading delivery and courier service helps you provide efficient and accurate order shipping to your customers, which helps you grow your business and customer base. If you can deliver timely orders, your customers will stay satisfied with your services and keep coming back to shop from you.
Not just timely delivery, but the importance of international shipping at affordable rates is also undeniable. Leading 3PLs in the UK, like Meteor Space, can provide fast international delivery for your business as well. We work with the leading UK delivery and courier services, making sure you don’t have to worry about any international shipping restrictions or taxes.
If you are looking to select the perfect delivery partner for your business, it can be important for you to understand the industry and delivery sector first, and what better way to do that than through the latest UK delivery and courier statistics! Let’s take a look at some of the most helpful UK delivery statistics to provide a better understanding for you.
General UK Delivery And Courier Statistics And Consumer Expectations
The expectations of the people in the UK have grown and become more advanced than ever before. The delivery speeds and service provided by companies like Amazon and Amazon Prime have raised expectations for everyone in the UK. People now expect their orders to be delivered to them on the same day or within the next two days. The UK delivery and courier companies have to upgrade their shipping speeds and make sure they live up to customer expectations. Not only customer expectations, but the number of daily packages and parcels also continues to increase according to the latest statistics. This is why the UK parcel and delivery companies have to evolve every year and prepare to deliver more and more orders every day. Let’s take a look at some of the UK delivery and courier statistics that show us what the consumer expectations are and how the delivery and parcel volume has increased over the years.
Revenue generated from parcel services in the United Kingdom experienced continuous growth between 2013 and 2021 (Statista, 2021)
There is no doubt that the delivery and courier industry in the UK has been growing steadily over the past decade. There have been numerous share holders in the delivery and courier market in the UK, delivering parcels all over the country to the customers. With the boost in ecommerce and online shopping, the courier sector has grown even more. People are now ordering online and receiving parcels more than ever. The delivery and courier statistics show the gradual growth in this sector and how the industry has developed over the last few years.
A total of about 14 billion British pounds was recorded in the 2020/2021 fiscal year for the parcel industry (Statista, 2021)
The UK delivery and courier industry are booming, with about 14 billion GBP in revenue recorded in the 2020/2021 fiscal year. With the massive growth and expansion of the online shopping sector and eCommerce, more and more people are ordering and receiving parcels daily in the UK. There are many companies in the UK that provide top-notch delivery and courier services, and the British public is making use of their services more than ever. The UK delivery and courier industry has become immensely profitable, with most businesses in the sector doing extremely well.
Approximately 4.2 billion parcels were sent in the 2020/2021 fiscal year (Statista, 2021)
With each passing year, people living in the UK are sending and receiving more parcels. In the 2020/2021 fiscal year, over 4 billion parcels were sent to the UK, showing us how much the UK delivery and courier industry has grown. The UK delivery and courier companies are used by online and offline businesses, as well as many other sectors, to deliver parcels and packages safely.
There was an increase of over 1.3 billion parcels sent relative to the 2019/2020 fiscal year (Statista, 2020)
Another statistic that shows how the UK delivery and courier sector is growing increasingly is how there was an increase of 1.3 billion parcels in 2020/2021 compared to 2019/2020. More businesses and the general public are using the delivery and courier providers to send and receive packages and parcels. The growth of ecommerce and online retail has also made the use of delivery and courier services more popular than ever.
In the financial year ending March 2022, Royal Mail delivered just below eight billion letters without including the election letters (Statista, 2022)
The UK delivery and courier services, such as Royal Mail, are also used for delivering letters. In the fiscal year that ended in March of 2022, Royal Mail delivered around 8 billion letters. This number is already high, and considering that the election letters are not included in this, it becomes even more significant.
In the 2021/2022 fiscal year, the parcel deliveries of the Royal Mail reached 1.5 billion packages, representing a 13 percent decrease compared to the previous year when parcel deliveries rose significantly due to increased online shopping numbers in the UK (Statista, 2022)
The deliveries carried out by the Royal Mail in the 2021/2022 fiscal year were around 1.5 billion packages in total. Although this number is pretty massive, it is still a 13% decrease from the previous fiscal year. In the previous year, the ecommerce and online retail industry grew significantly, which is why the number of packages delivered was so high for the Royal Mail. The total packages delivered by all the UK delivery and courier services was still higher than the previous year, hinting that the Royal Mail might have lost some business to other competitors in the UK delivery and courier industry.
33% of online shoppers believed that same-day delivery options were important back in 2020 (chargedretail, 2022)
According to a survey carried out in 2020, 33% of online shoppers wanted same-day delivery options. It is important to know what your customers want as it makes it easier for you to provide it for them. With the acceleration and growth of the ecommerce and online shopping sector, more people want better delivery and courier services in the UK. If you want to build a strong customer base, it is crucial that you provide your customers with what they want.
56% of online shoppers believed that same-day delivery options are important in 2022 (chargedretail, 2022)
By 2022, the percentage of online shoppers that want same-day delivery options has increased to 56%, showing us once again that customers want advanced and efficient delivery options when they make a purchase. The growing popularity of Amazon and Amazon Prime services in the UK has also made it crucial for other delivery and courier services in the country to provide same-day and two-day delivery options. If you want to keep your customers satisfied and don’t want to lose out to other delivery services, you need to provide same-day delivery options.
There is an increased interest in same-day deliveries in the UK (chargedretail, 2022)
There is no doubt that the number of people who want same-day delivery options in the UK has increased over the years. With the rise of ecommerce and online shopping, people are becoming more aware of delivery services and practices and they don’t want to wait a long time for their orders to be delivered to them.
62% of those surveyed by ParcelHero expect next-day delivery options (up from 44% in 2020) (chargedretail, 2022)
Along with same-day delivery options, more people are also now wanting next-day delivery options. The number of people who expect next-day delivery from UK delivery and courier services has increased from 44% in 2020 to 62% in 2022. This means customers want fast and efficient delivery and businesses want to provide that for them.
55% of those surveyed by ParcelHero want specific, two-hour time slots (up from 44% in 2020) (chargedretail, 2022)
More people in the UK want specific, two-hour time slots for their parcel deliveries. The percentage of people who want a two-hour time slot of their deliveries has increased from 44% in 2020 to 55% in 2022. The survey was conducted by ParcelHero, showing us that the expectations customers in the UK have for the delivery and courier services have increased significantly and it is crucial that companies live up to these expectations.
61% of consumers are willing to wait slightly longer for more eco-friendly deliveries (down from 74% in 2020) (chargedretail, 2022)
In 2020, 74% of people were willing to wait longer for more eco-friendly deliveries. This number has gone down to 61% in 2022. This shows that people in the UK are now less likely to wait longer for deliveries that are made more sustainable and in an environmentally-friendly manner. This decrease is also related to the continuous increase in the number of online shoppers and eCommerce customers in the UK, who want their orders to be delivered on the same day or within the next day.
The cost of delivery is the most important factor when deciding on online delivery services (68%) (shiply, 2022)
People in the UK choose their delivery and courier services based on various factors. The most important factor for most people is the cost of delivery. It is crucial that the leading UK delivery and courier services can offer reasonable and affordable shipping for their customers as that is the number one thing they look for in their delivery partners.
The returns policy is the second most important factor when deciding on online delivery services (43%) (shiply, 2022)
For people in the UK, the second most important factor when choosing their delivery and courier service is the returns policy. Return policy has become more important than ever with the rise of ecommerce. The more you purchase online, without seeing the products in real life, the higher chance of you wanting to return the item. If the UK delivery and courier services have a lenient returns policy, more people are likely to use their services.
Market Share Statistics For The Leading UK Delivery And Courier Providers
The UK delivery and courier industry has developed continuously over the past few years. It has gone from one major player, the Royal Mail, to now multiple major share holders. The UK delivery and courier sector has witnessed significant changes because of many different reasons. The sudden boost in ecommerce and online retail has also contributed to the evolving delivery and shipping industry. People in today’s day and age have different expectations from the delivery providers and businesses that partner with these providers want to make sure the needs of their customers are met. Let’s take a closer look at how the UK delivery and courier sector looks now and who the key share holders in the market are.
There are 15,695 delivery and courier companies in the UK (shiply, 2022)
Currently there are over fifteen thousand delivery and courier companies in the UK. This high number is due to the increasing use of delivery companies in the UK. Ecommerce and online shopping has become the norm, especially after the pandemic. More and more people place orders and get packages delivered to them daily. The high number of daily parcels and packages has lead to an increase in the number of delivery and courier companies in the UK.
Royal Mail is by far the most popular delivery service in the UK with 52% of people in the UK saying they prefer to use their services when sending items (shiply, 2022)
Royal Mail has established its place as one of the industry leaders when it comes to the UK delivery and courier service providers. The company is used by a large majority of the people in the UK, with over 50% of the people choosing it as their choice of delivery service. Royal Mail also provides excellent delivery and shipping services, making sure all orders reach customers on time, making it one of the most trusted and reliable delivery companies in the UK. A lot of businesses also choose to partner with Royal mail to carry out deliveries on their behalf.
Hermes (now rebranded to Evri) is the second most popular with 16.1% of people using them (shiply, 2022)
The difference between the first most popular delivery company in the UK and the second, Hermes, is also huge. 16.1% of the people in the UK choose Hermes for their delivery and courier needs compared to 52% of the people choosing Royal Mail. However, Hermes is still quite popular, especially with some businesses that use it to deliver timely orders to their customers. Hermes has also established its place as one of the top UK delivery and courier companies and delivers a high number of parcels and packages to people in the UK every year.
DPDgroup with 14.2% is the third most used delivery and courier provider in the UK (shiply, 2022)
DPDgroup is one of the top three delivery and courier companies in the UK, with 14.2% people choosing to use their services to send and receive orders. A lot of businesses in the UK also trust DPDgroup to deliver orders to their customers because the company has a reputation of being efficient and delivering orders in the best possible condition. DPDgroup has improved its reputation over the years and is now seen as one of the most reliable delivery and courier companies in the UK.
Parcelforce (5%), DHL (4%), Yodel (3%), UPS (3%), and others (3%) make up the rest of the list (shiply, 2022) T
here are a lot of other delivery and courier services in the UK that hold a significant market share. These companies include Parcelforce, with 5% of the market share, DHL, with 4% of the market share, Yodel, with 3% of the market share, UPS, with 3% of the market share, and other companies that hold a total of 3% of the market share. As you can see from this list and break down, the UK delivery and courier market is very saturated and more and more delivery companies pop up every year. The ever-increasing number of parcels each year has led to the boost in the UK delivery and courier sector.
61% of consumers say DPDgroup was the best delivery service provider in terms of customer satisfaction and experience (shiply, 2022)
According to research, 61% of the people in the UK say working with DPDgroup has been the best delivery experience for them. Businesses in the UK that have worked with DPDgroup say that the customer satisfaction levels were the highest with DPDgroup and the company is reliable and fast, providing an excellent shipping experience for their customers.
55% of consumers say Royal Mail was the best delivery service provider in terms of customer satisfaction and experience (shiply, 2022)
Although Royal Mail is the most used UK delivery and courier company, less people actually chose the company as the best service provider in terms of customer satisfaction and experience. 55% of people in the UK think Royal Mail is the best compared to 61% that chose DPDgroup, even though DPDgroup is the third most used service in the UK. However, 55% is still a high number and Royal Mail has established its place as one of the best delivery and courier service providers in the UK.
49 of the 100 largest online stores in the UK choose Hermes as their delivery partner (shiply, 2022)
When it comes to online businesses and retailers, 49 out of the 100 largest online stores in the UK choose Hermes as their choice of delivery partner. This can be because of a variety of reasons. Online businesses and stores have different business needs and Hermes is a delivery service provider that can meet these needs and keep the customers of online stores happy and satisfied. When it comes to online businesses, the delivery speed has to be fast and the orders need to be delivered accurately and in the best possible condition. Hermes is a delivery partner that makes it possible for online stores to achieve that through their outstanding services.
37 out of 100 online retailers in the UK choose Royal Mail as their delivery partner (shiply, 2022)
After Hermes, most of the online retailers in the UK choose to team up with Royal Mail for their delivery and shipping needs. As one of the industry leaders in the UK, Royal Mail is also known for its excellent shipping and delivery services, making it a popular choice for online stores and ecommerce businesses. They provide top-notch delivery services, making sure customers are always satisfied and all orders are delivered without any trouble.
26 out of 100 online retailers in the UK choose DPDgroup as their delivery partner (shiply, 2022)
Although DPDgroup is the most preferred choice for delivery and courier services for 61% of people in the UK, it is the third most preferred delivery company for online businesses and retailers. 26 out of the 100 largest online retailers in the UK team up with DPDgroup for their delivery and courier services. However, DPDgroup is still one of the best service providers in the UK and they have established their place as one of the industry leaders, providing excellent services, fast delivery speeds, and great returns policies.
London has the largest share of couriers/delivery services, with a 20% market share (shiply, 2022)
When we look at the UK and how the courier and delivery market is spread across the country, we can see that London has the largest share of delivery and courier service providers, with 20% of the entire market share and 3,101 courier companies being based in London. The city is a hub for delivery and courier services in the UK, and holds a huge market share in the sector.
Manchester has the second largest share of couriers/delivery services, with 6% (shiply, 2022)
Manchester is second to London and holds 6% of the entire market share in the UK for the delivery and courier sector. A total of 967 delivery and courier companies are based in Manchester, making it a city with a massive delivery and courier sector.
Cheshire has the third largest share of couriers/delivery services, with 4% (shiply, 2022)
After London and Manchester, Cheshire has the third largest market share in the courier and delivery industry in the UK with 674 companies based in Cheshire and a 4% share. It is also a massive share and these UK delivery and courier statistics show how the market is divided mostly between these three cities and most of the companies are based in these cities.
UK Delivery And Courier Statistics: Who Uses These Services
If you are trying to understand the delivery industry in the UK, it is also important to read the UK delivery and courier statistics that show who is actually utilizing these services for their business or other needs. These statistics can help you figure out the target audience of the delivery and courier companies and the people who benefit from these services. In the UK, the delivery and courier companies have become extremely popular and people use these services for various business needs. The courier services are used by the people in the UK to send and receive parcels and letters and documents as well. Let;s take a closer look at the statistics and understand how these services are being used and by whom.
81% of British nationals have used courier and/or delivery services in the last year (shiply, 2022)
People in the UK have started using delivery and courier services more often, with over 80% of the entire population using the services to send and receive packages. One of the major factors that has contributed to the massive boost in the delivery and courier usage is the pandemic. With people being in lockdown, the use of delivery and courier services increased and people became more comfortable ordering online or through other means and receiving their packages from the comfort of their homes.
54% of consumers aged 25-34 in the UK shopped online once a week in 2021 (shiply, 2022)
There is a huge percentage of the population in the UK between ages 25 and 34 who use delivery and courier services at least once a week. Over 50% of the people from this age group have used the services once a week in 2021, showing us how most young people are keen on placing orders online and receiving the packages. The delivery companies have also worked hard to improve their delivery times and services, which has also contributed to more people feeling comfortable receiving orders instead of going shopping at the physical stores.
63% of Gen-Z and millennials own a delivery pass subscription (shiply, 2022)
Delivery passes have become very popular, especially with gen-z and millennials, with 63% of them having a subscription for a delivery pass. A delivery pass can help you get prioritized delivery based on the time of your choice. It is also an excellent way to get free delivery, which is why people prefer having delivery pass subscriptions. Not only that, but with a delivery pass you can schedule your deliveries in advance and get your orders delivered to you on time even during peak hours. People that use delivery passes from different businesses find them convenient and affordable, which is why they keep them.
36% of people over the age of 45 own a delivery pass subscription (shiply, 2022)
Compared to 63% of the gen-z and millennials having subscriptions for delivery passes, only 36% of people over the age of 45 have a delivery pass subscription in the UK. This can also be because most people over the age of 45 don’t have a complete understanding of how a delivery pass subscription works or what the benefits are. It is also because people over the age of 45 use the delivery and courier services less compared to gen-z and millennials, which is why they don’t feel like they need delivery passes and subscriptions.
16% of people over the age of 65 were using the delivery services once a week before the pandemic (shiply, 2022)
Before the pandemic, only 16% of people over the age of 65 were using delivery and courier services once a week in the UK. This is because the need for online ordering and shopping wasn’t a lot and people were frequenting markets and shops to make purchases in person. The number of people using courier and delivery services was, especially for people over the age of 65. This can also be because most people over the age of 65 are not very tech-savvy and don’t use online services to place orders and receive parcels frequently compared to gen-z and millennials.
After the pandemic and lockdown, 45% of people over the age of 65 were using delivery services once a week (shiply, 2022)
Once the pandemic hit, people all over the UK were under lockdown. This meant that people over the age of 65 in the UK could not go to markets and physical stores to make purchases anymore either. The lockdown due to the pandemic led to 45% of people over the age of 65 in the UK using delivery and courier services at least once a week. People had no other option but to get their items delivered to them because they were facing strict restrictions and could not make physical purchases often. On the whole, the pandemic and lockdowns in the UK gave a rise to the number of people using delivery services, whether they were over the age of 65, millennials, or gen-z.
UK Delivery And Courier Statistics: Scale And Growth
When you look at the UK delivery and courier statistics, you can understand the scale of the industry and how it has developed and grown over the years. The pandemic and lockdowns were a difficult time for the UK, however, it was a time that made using delivery and courier services more common than ever. It would not be wrong to say that the pandemic led to more and more people placing orders and sending and receiving orders with the help of the courier and delivery companies in the UK. Let’s take a look at some statistics that show the growth and the scale of the UK delivery and courier sector.
In 2013, the UK delivery and courier industry was estimated to process around 1.7 billion parcels annually, which has risen to 4.2 Billion parcels by 2021(shiply, 2022)
Over the last decade or so, the UK delivery and courier industry has seen a massive growth and increase in the order volumes. Back in 2013, the UK delivery sector processed around 1.7 billion parcels and packages by the end of the year. However, this number has increased and reached a whopping 4.2 billion by the end of 2021. This shows that the UK delivery and courier industry has seen a massive growth and as more companies have established themselves are share holders in the market, more orders and parcels are being delivered by the end of each year.
The market size of the delivery and courier industry is estimated to be 13 billion GBP (shiply, 202)
When it comes to the UK delivery and courier industry, it is no secret that this sector is one of the most essential and fast-growing sectors in the country. As more and more businesses start to take off, the ecommerce sector has also become saturated. All online businesses and companies also use the delivery and courier companies in the UK for their shipping needs. The UK delivery and courier sector has a huge market size, estimated to be around 13 billion GBP. This statistic also shows us how important the sector is and how many people are earning a living through the delivery and courier sector. It is also a sector that is showing no signs of slowing down, and the market size is only predicted to grow in the future as well.
There are 111,776 people estimated to be working in the delivery and courier industry in the UK (shiply, 2022)
The UK delivery and courier industry is massive, and of the most important sectors of the country. This industry not only generates high revenue and has a massive market size, but it is also the source of income for many people. According to research, around 111,776 people are working in the delivery and courier industry in the UK. The delivery and courier infrastructure in the UK is developing and becoming more vast, and there will be even more employment opportunities in this sector in the coming years.
Per month, the UK has 347,583,333 parcels delivered, which means 132 parcels delivered per second (shiply, 2022)
The people living in the UK use courier and delivery services to have parcels delivered frequently. A huge percentage of the population of the UK have multiple parcels delivered every week, and these numbers add up to a lot. According to surveys, a total of 347,583,333 parcels are delivered by the delivery and courier companies in the UK every month. This means that every second, at least 132 parcels are being delivered in the UK on average.
Since 2013, there has been a 138% increase in deliveries annually in the UK, with the numbers rising from 1,752,000,000 to 4,171,000,000 in 2021 (shiply, 2022)
The studies conducted from 2013 till now show that there has been a 138% increase in deliveries every year in the UK. The number of deliveries annually in 2013 was 1,752,000,000, which has now increased to 4,171,000,000 in 2021. This shows how much the UK delivery and courier industry has grown and how many more parcels are delivered every year compared to almost a decade ago. A massive factor that has contributed to this increase is ecommerce and online shopping becoming more accessible and popular in the UK.
The delivery industry is predicted to continue to grow at a rapid pace with the sector’s market value being forecast to increase by 92% between 2019 and 2024 to reach 21 billion GBP (shiply, 2022)
According to studies, the UK delivery and courier industry is all set to grow even more in the coming years. The market value of the delivery and courier sector is forecasted to increase by 92% between 2019 and 2024. According to this forecast, the market value of the UK delivery and courier sector will reach 21 billion GBP. It is no surprise that the delivery sector in the UK will continue to grow, as we are living in the age of ecommerce and online shopping, which has given a boost to more packages and parcels being delivered every day in the UK.
Are You Looking For A Leading Fulfillment And Delivery Partner In The UK?
As a business based in the UK, you need UK delivery and fulfillment services that can help you keep your customers satisfied through fast shipping and expand your reach through international order fulfillment and delivery. Finding the perfect match for your business can be a challenge, but not anymore!
If you are looking for a leading fulfillment and delivery company in the UK, you have come to the right place! Here at Meteor Space, we help you fulfill orders from multiple sales channels in time and provide international shipping for your business. With our help, you can focus on other aspects of your business and accelerate your growth.
We have a team of experts who pick and pack orders accurately and deliver them to your customers on time. With the help of Meteor Space, you can unlock the full potential of your business and build a loyal and strong customer base. We are always here to provide the best for your business and help you reach customers across borders without any challenges.
Not only that, but Meteor Space also offers secure and organized warehousing and storage solutions in our state-of-the-art fulfillment center in the UK. We keep your inventory with us and manage it expertly on your behalf!
Sounds like the perfect match for your business?