Ranking the World’s 25 Largest Air Freight Forwarders

Why It Matters

The ranking highlights shifting competitive dynamics in global air logistics, where marginal volume differences can affect market share and pricing power. It also signals growing demand for integrated, fast‑moving supply chains, especially as e‑commerce and high‑value goods rely on air transport.

Key Takeaways

• Kuehne+Nagel tops list with 2.03 M metric tons in 2025
• DSV trails by just 17,000 tons, showing tight competition
• DHL holds third spot, still 250,000 tons behind leader
• U.S. firms occupy five of top 25, highlighting domestic strength
• Maersk Logistics enters top 20, expanding beyond ocean shipping

Pulse Analysis

Armstrong & Associates compiles its annual air freight forwarder ranking by aggregating total metric tons moved in the prior calendar year, offering a clear benchmark of scale in a market where volume translates directly into network reach and pricing leverage. The 2026 list reflects a modest overall growth in air cargo volumes, driven by resilient demand for rapid delivery of electronics, pharmaceuticals, and perishable goods. By quantifying each provider’s throughput, the ranking helps shippers assess capacity reliability and informs investors about the relative strength of logistics conglomerates.

Geographically, Europe and Asia dominate the upper echelon, with Swiss‑based Kuehne+Nagel, Denmark’s DSV, and Germany’s DHL collectively moving over 5.5 million tons. The United States maintains a solid foothold, contributing five firms to the top 25, notably Expeditors, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, and C.H. Robinson, underscoring the country’s extensive domestic air network. Maersk’s appearance at No. 16 illustrates traditional ocean carriers’ strategic pivot toward multimodal services, leveraging their global footprints to capture a slice of the high‑margin air segment.

For the broader supply‑chain ecosystem, the tight margins between the top three players—Kuehne+Nagel leads by less than 1 %—signal an intensely competitive environment where service differentiation, digital platforms, and sustainability initiatives become decisive factors. Companies are investing in AI‑driven route optimization and carbon‑offset programs to attract environmentally conscious clients. As e‑commerce continues to accelerate and geopolitical tensions reshape trade lanes, forwarders that can flexibly scale capacity while integrating end‑to‑end visibility will likely ascend the rankings in the coming years.