How many companies are there in the Transportation and Logistics sector?

In March 2022, the Transport & Logistics sector had nearly 397,000 active companies, representing 3.6% of the population of companies in metropolitan France, with 5.1% of the workforce and 4.3% of cumulative revenues. of the population of companies in metropolitan France for 5.1% of the workforce and 4.3% of the cumulative turnover.

Transport & logistics, a major sector of the French economy

In March 2022, the Transport & Logistics sector will have nearly 397,000 active companies, representing 3.6% of the population of companies in metropolitan France for 5.1% of the workforce and 4.3% of the cumulative turnover.

This sector remains particularly dynamic with significant increases in the various entrepreneurial populations. In fact, the number of companies in the sector as a whole has more than doubled in 5 years. Over the decade 2012-2021, the Transport & Logistics sector will record 2.3 companies created for every one that disappears. All activities are doing well, but this exceptional dynamism is essentially driven by Transport with the massive arrival of micro-entrepreneurs.

However, the cyclical diﬃculties encountered over the past two years have put the financial health of many companies in the sector at risk, despite the broad support provided by the State. Over the last 12 months to the end of March 2022, the number of insolvencies has risen very significantly by 17% and threatens nearly 6,200 salaried positions.

Land transport, active but weakened

In mainland France, land transport accounts for 96.3% of companies, 71.3% of employees and 52.2% of cumulative revenues in the Transport & Logistics sector.

In the road transport activity alone, business creation has been exponential since 2012, with a record of nearly 106,500 new entities in 2021, compared to less than 10,000 in 2012. This boom is linked to the explosion of internet sales (e-commerce and catering), which has multiplied the delivery of parcels in relay stores or meals at home. An effect further reinforced by the recent Covid-19 crisis with telecommuting. This new population of companies remains nevertheless volatile in the short term. Indeed, it is essentially composed of micro-companies, and young people, students in particular, looking for income.

"Announced on March 16, the resilience plan grants the Road Freight Transport, 15 cents of fuel discount at the pump (over 4 months), while hoping that oil companies will also make an effort (agreement in principle of TOTAL). It has been established that the profession will also be able to benefit from a monthly reimbursement of the TICPE (previously quarterly); measures deemed insufficient by professionals in the sector... "

- Max Jammot, Head of the Economic Division at Ellisphere

Air, space and water transport in the storm

In contrast, air & space transportation and water transportation generate few new businesses, less than 300 entities per year since 2012.

Air & space transport represents only 0.6% of the companies, 7.4% of the workforce and of the cumulated turnover of Transport & Logistics as a whole.

In 2020, the Covid-19 crisis is grounding air travel. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the number of passengers carried worldwide falls by 65.8% compared to 2019. In 2021, demand is still 75.5% lower than in 2019. Air transport is also suffering from strong international competition, particularly from low-cost operators, as well as overcapacity.

Water transport represents only 0.9% of entities for 2.2% of employees and 11.6% of the sector's turnover. The maritime sector is concentrated, dominated by a national and international champion: CMA-CGM.

The costs of maritime transport have soared, with the reduction in the number of ships in circulation and the shortage of containers blocked in various ports around the world by the Covid-19 crisis. This situation weakens imports and exports of certain products from Asia in particular, and impacts the margins of shipping companies.

"Transport & logistics is a sector regularly used to economic upheavals. Nevertheless, let's not forget the essential, the digitalization, the collaboration and the adaptability of this sector are to be shown as an example. Moreover, "only" 23,800 companies in the sector have benefited from a State Guaranteed Loan (SGP), a low percentage (3.41% of the population) well below other activities in our economy."

- Alain Luminel, Head of the Financial Analysis Department at Ellisphere

As of December 31, 2021, over a sliding 12-month period, the number of business creations was 107,700, an increase of +24.4%, and the number of disappearances was 43,812, an increase of +115.1% compared to the previous year.