Courier companies are in a difficult financial situation: In two years, over 1,000 courier companies disappeared from the market. Last year, 645 courier companies (mostly sole proprietorships) were suspended or liquidated, and the year before there were 490 such cases.
The main reason for falls are problems with financial liquidity: The debt of courier companies currently amounts to PLN 40.7 million and is over PLN 5 million higher than last year. The largest number of debtors are among the smallest companies. In 2023, among 1,237 companies with outstanding financial liabilities, as many as 913 were micro-enterprises. It consists of, among others:incl. receivables from insurance companies, internet and telephone fees and mutual debts.
Chain of debtors: Many courier companies are fighting on their own to recover the amounts due to them money. – Delays in payment by one party have a negative impact on the financial situation of the other party. In the case of the courier industry, many companies are sole proprietorships that have the least ability to negotiate terms and time transfer – says Jerzy Dąbrowski, member of the management board of Finea, which specializes in financing the TSL industry. Enterprises in this industry are expected to pay PLN 34 million in receivables.
The demand for couriers is growing: Meanwhile, Poles are ordering more and more. It is estimated that this year couriers will deliver approximately 1.2 billion parcels, including nearly half a million from October to the end of December. According to the latest data from the Office of Electronic Communications, in 2025 it will be 1.34 billion, in 2026 1.5 billion items, and in 2027 it is expected to reach up to 1.65 billion items. It is possible that at some point the market will not bear it and supply will not catch up with demand. In other words – there will be no couriers.
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Sources: Brandscope (press materials).