Feb 4, 2026
5 mins read
5 mins read

Chemical Logistics Market Size & Forecast 2035

Here’s a comprehensive reference overview for the Chemical Logistics Market including leading companies with relative values/positions, recent developments, drivers, restraints, regional segmentation, emerging trends, top use cases, challenges, opportunities, and key factors for market expansion — based on multiple industry sources and market reports:


📊 Chemical Logistics Market — Company References & Values

🏆 Key Companies (with market influence / notable share)

The chemical logistics market is large and competitive, with several global logistics and supply-chain firms holding significant shares or strategic positions:

Top Providers & Relative Market Positions

  • DHL Global Forwarding – ~14.2% estimated share; strong in international freight and chemical handling.
  • Kuehne + Nagel International AG – ~12.6% market share, advanced digital & hazardous logistics infrastructure.
  • DB Schenker / Deutsche Bahn Schenker – major global logistics provider with extensive chemical freight solutions.
  • C.H. Robinson Worldwide – significant 3PL player with multimodal chemical transport services.
  • Agility Logistics & Rhenus Logistics – strong specialized chemical logistics and storage networks.
  • A&R Logistics, BDP International, BDtrans, Ryder, Sinotrans, Nippon Express – other active regional/global players.

💡 The market is fragmented but moderately concentrated among major players with ~55% combined share in many segments, while regional specialists fill niche needs.

Market Size Values (Indicative)

  • ~USD 230–282 billion (2024–2025) base market value.
  • Projected ~USD 350–406+ billion by 2034 (various forecasts).
  • CAGR estimates ~4–5.2% over 2025–2034 period.

🔁 Recent Developments

DHL Supply Chain secured a multi-year logistics partnership with a major chemical firm (Sanyo Chemical) expanding managed chemical distribution services in Japan.
Bertschi AG (Swiss specialist) reported over CHF 1.13 billion revenue and continued global operations in chemical logistics (2023 data).
Vopak expanded a joint-venture chemical terminal in Thailand to boost storage for imported ethane and chemicals in Asia Pacific.
Investments and infrastructure expansions across regions, focusing on terminals, warehousing, and temperature-controlled assets.


🚀 Market Drivers

Key forces fueling market growth include:

  1. Growing global chemical production and trade — increasing volumes of base chemicals, specialty chemicals, and agrochemicals drive logistics demand.
  2. Stringent safety & regulatory compliance needs — hazardous materials require certified handling, pushing businesses to specialist logistics providers.
  3. Expansion in end-use industries — pharmaceuticals, agriculture, automotive, construction, and consumer goods boost chemical distribution and logistics needs.
  4. Rise of digital supply-chain solutions — real-time tracking, IoT, and automated planning enhance efficiency and reliability.

⚠️ Restraints

Challenges that limit market growth include:

  • High operating and infrastructure costs — specialized vehicles, reinforced storage, safety systems, and certifications raise expenses for logistics providers.
  • Regulatory complexity across regions — differing laws and compliance standards complicate cross-border logistics.
  • Environmental impact concerns — emissions from transport and hazardous waste management require greener solutions.
  • Risk of incidents — handling hazardous chemicals carries inherent safety and liability risks.

🌍 Regional Segmentation Analysis

Asia Pacific: Dominant and fastest-growing region (40 %+ share in 2024–2025) due to rapid industrial expansion, robust chemical production growth (China, India), and infrastructure investments.
North America: High demand for regulatory-compliant logistics and advanced supply chain solutions.
Europe: Mature market with emphasis on sustainability and safety compliance.
Latin America / Middle East & Africa: Emerging growth prospects with expanding chemical industries and infrastructure needs.


🔥 Emerging Trends

Digitalization & real-time visibility solutions using IoT, AI, and blockchain for enhanced chemical shipment tracking and safety.
Green logistics innovations – eco-friendly transport fleets, carbon-reduction strategies, and sustainable warehousing.
Temperature-controlled logistics gaining importance with the rise of specialty and pharmaceutical chemicals.
Intermodal and multimodal transport solutions to optimize cost and risk in global chemical supply chains.


🧰 Top Use Cases

  1. Bulk liquid chemical transportation (petrochemicals, solvents) across continents.
  2. Hazardous and regulated chemical logistics (industrial chemicals, acids, bases).
  3. Specialty & fine chemical distribution needing controlled environments and traceability.
  4. Pharmaceutical ingredient logistics requiring strict temperature and compliance controls.

🛑 Major Challenges

Safety and environmental risks in handling & storage of hazardous chemicals.
Shortage of skilled personnel trained in chemical logistics compliance and emergency response.
Operational cost pressures reducing margins for specialized logistics.
Complex cross-border regulations causing delays and compliance burdens.


Attractive Opportunities

Sustainable and green logistics solutions (low-emission transport, energy-efficient storage).
Cold chain and specialty chemical logistics — high-value segment with premium pricing.
Tech-enabled services — IoT, digital platforms and analytics for optimized routing and compliance.
Infrastructure investments in emerging markets driving expansion of chemical storage & distribution networks.


📈 Key Factors of Market Expansion

To fuel long-term expansion, stakeholders should focus on:
Regulatory compliance and safety certification expertise to build trust with chemical manufacturers.
Investment in digital supply-chain technologies for visibility, efficiency & differentiation.
Sustainable logistics strategies that align with environmental regulations and customer expectations.
Strategic partnerships with chemical producers for dedicated and integrated logistics solutions.
Regional expansion and multimodal transport capabilities to handle global demand and network complexity.


If you’d like, I can provide a table summarizing the financials and service portfolios of the top chemical logistics companies mentioned above.