Freight Forwarding is a very profitable industry. The article pitches Kuehne and Nagle but is favorable to all the big forwarders. There’s some interesting analysis.
These firms book lots of space on ocean carriers, especially for containers, and are a way for shippers to hire someone to manage the service level of their supply chain transport sections. The forwarder also gathers the information about shipments and can provide it to interested parties. Their role as information hubs is a major source of value provided to customers.
Freight forwarding is one of the most profitable industries in the world, and its top performers are almost as profitable as Apple, with experience and stable, productive business systems being key differentiators, say analysts.
Supply Chain and Logistics 