UPS leads fragmented first- and last-mile delivery market with 1% share

United Parcel Service held the top global sales position in the fragmented first- and last-mile delivery market in 2024 with a 1% share, according to The Business Research Company. The market is projected to pass $388 billion by 2030 as e-commerce, quick commerce and delivery technology continue to reshape shipping networks worldwide.

Why it matters: - The first- and last-mile delivery market is expanding fast as retailers, logistics firms and delivery platforms race to meet higher expectations for speed and convenience. - The market is still highly fragmented, so scale, technology and network density remain key advantages. - United Parcel Service’s 1% share underscores how dispersed the industry remains even among global logistics leaders.

What happened: - United Parcel Service Inc. led the global first- and last-mile delivery market in 2024 with a 1% share. - DHL Global Forwarding, DB Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel International AG and DSV A/S each also held about 1% of the market. - FedEx Corporation, CEVA Logistics, Nippon Express Co. Ltd., Kerry Logistics Network Limited and XPO Logistics each held between 0.3% and 0.4%. - The Business Research Company published the market report on Oct. 16, 2026.

The details: - The market is projected to surpass $388 billion by 2030. - The broader Couriers and Messengers market is forecast to reach about $1,662 billion by 2030. - First- and last-mile delivery is expected to account for nearly 23% of the Couriers and Messengers market and close to 3% of the wider Transport Services industry. - The sector is forecast to grow at a 10% compound annual growth rate through 2030. - Asia Pacific is projected to become the largest regional market by 2030, reaching $126 billion from $71 billion in 2025. - Asia Pacific growth is projected at a 12% CAGR, driven by e-commerce, quick-commerce, dense urban populations, warehousing investment and on-demand delivery services. - The United States is expected to remain the largest national market by 2030 at $105 billion, up from $69 billion in 2025. - The U.S. market is forecast to grow at a 9% CAGR, supported by online retail, omni-channel distribution, micro-fulfillment centers, tracking technology and delivery network upgrades. - Dry goods, postal items and liquid goods are expected to add more than $148 billion in value between 2025 and 2030. - Dry goods are projected to contribute $81 billion, postal items $41 billion and liquid goods $26 billion. - Dry goods are expected to represent 55% of total market revenue, or $213 billion, by 2030. - The market is segmented by vehicle type into light duty, medium duty and heavy duty vehicles. - The market is also segmented by end use across chemical, pharmaceutical and healthcare, fast-moving consumer goods, hi-tech products, food and beverage, and other industries.

Between the lines: - The report points to a market where growth is being fueled by structural shifts in shopping and fulfillment, not just by package volume. - Quick commerce and same-day delivery are forcing companies to build local distribution centers and dark stores closer to customers. - Technology is becoming a core competitive lever, with artificial intelligence, route optimization, automated sorting and real-time parcel tracking used to cut costs and improve precision. - The top 10 companies accounted for only 5% of total revenue in 2024, showing how difficult it is for any one player to dominate the category. - Operational complexity, infrastructure demands and the need for fast, reliable and low-cost delivery are keeping the market fragmented. - Grojet introduced Grojet Express in Mangalore in December 2025 as a 24-hour hyperlocal pickup and delivery service for consumers and businesses.

What's next: - Companies are expected to keep expanding hyperlocal logistics, real-time tracking, distributed warehousing and AI-driven planning to improve coverage and delivery accuracy. - Regional expansion should continue as demand rises for faster fulfillment and more visible supply chains. - The report says collaborations, technology adoption and regional growth are likely to reinforce the position of leading firms. - The Business Research Company says its 2026 reports include market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrices, forecasting dashboards, hotspot infographics and updated graphics and tables.

The bottom line: - UPS leads a market that is growing quickly but remains highly fragmented, with the biggest winners likely to be companies that can combine scale, speed and technology.