Report: Warehouse Automation Order Intake up by 7%

Why It Matters

The growth signals that price pressures and strategic retailer spend can mask underlying demand weakness, while regional disparities will shape investment priorities for automation vendors and logistics operators.

Key Takeaways

• Order intake rose 7% in 2025 despite weak economy.
• Steel and labor cost inflation boosted project values.
• EMEA leads growth with ~7% annual increase to 2030.
• Parcel sector projected 6% CAGR 2025‑2030.
• North America growth may slow as CapEx cycles mature.

Pulse Analysis

The 2025 warehouse‑automation market showed a surprising 7 % rise in order intake, a figure that masks underlying demand weakness. Analysts attribute the uptick largely to inflated project values, as soaring steel prices and a tight labor market forced buyers to allocate larger budgets for the same equipment. At the same time, megaretailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Tesco launched multi‑billion‑dollar fulfillment expansions, injecting high‑visibility contracts that lifted the headline numbers. In effect, price pressure rather than volume drove the short‑term surge.

Geographically, the outlook diverges. Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are projected to outpace peers with an average 7 % annual growth through 2030, buoyed by relatively stable input costs and continued automation spend in the UK, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. The Americas lag slightly at 6 %, where grocery‑center automation is expected to flatten as major distribution‑center programs near completion. APAC faces the steepest headwinds, with China reporting an 8 % revenue decline in 2025, reflecting weaker domestic manufacturing demand and competitive pressure from lower‑cost regions.

Looking beyond 2025, the parcel and last‑mile segment emerges as the most resilient driver, with a forecasted 6 % compound annual growth rate to 2030. This reflects e‑commerce firms’ willingness to invest in robotic sortation and autonomous delivery solutions despite broader macro uncertainty. However, analysts warn that easing steel prices, political risk in the United States ahead of the 2028 election, and the maturation of large CapEx cycles could temper growth in North America. Companies that can balance cost‑inflation hedging with scalable technology will be best positioned to capture the next wave of warehouse automation.