Triangle research: E-commerce and C2C Growth Drive UK Parcel Volumes
Seeking clarity amidst global instability, Triangle Management Services has published its UK Parcel Market Size Report 2026, offering a comprehensive breakdown of the UK parcel carrier market and analysis of the key national carriers shaping the industry.
In 2024, the UK parcels market was marked by rising volumes (7% year-on-year growth) alongside a slowdown in revenue growth (3% in 2024, down from 9% in 2023).
This increase in volumes has been driven primarily by e-commerce – particularly the continued expansion of the C2C sector and the growing popularity of pre-loved (second-hand) purchases, as many as 72% of regular UK e-shoppers now use C2C platforms.
At the same time, the average UK online shopper remains cautious with spending, leading to evolving shopping behaviours that retailers and carriers have had to adapt to. Marketplaces and SMEs have emerged as a “super retail channel,” driven by demand for second-hand bargains and an increasing appetite for households to monetise unwanted items.
The slowdown in revenue growth is linked to inflationary pressures, including elevated fuel and operating costs, which have impacted profitability across the sector.
The report analyses an estimated 4.4 billion parcels handled in 2024 by the top 13 UK express carriers, generating £16.4 billion in revenue, and allocates market share across these players. It also provides detailed breakdowns by B2B, B2C, and C2X segments, parcel size and weight bands, service levels, and domestic versus international traffic.
Commenting on the findings, Agustin Maril, Senior Market Research Executive at Triangle Management, said: “2024 was a continuation of trends that emerged in 2023, with parcel volumes increasing on the back of a growing C2C sector- largely driven by second-hand purchases -alongside an overall decline in discretionary spending. However, this increase in volume did not necessarily translate into higher revenues, as customers gravitated towards more economical shipping methods while fixed costs, such as fuel, remained relatively high.”
The report also includes a detailed overview of the e-commerce market, which according to the ONS the value of online retail sales in the UK reached £127.41 billion in 2024. This is a 3.4% increase from £123.3 billion in 2023. The OOH (Out-of-Home) sector is analysed as well as in 2024 around 12% of all parcels were delivered to an OOH location.
Each carrier profile includes financial performance (covering the last two years), key markets and operations, investment in fleet and infrastructure, latest developments, and domestic and international service portfolios.
Carriers were contacted throughout the year to provide data on B2B, B2C, and C2X volumes, domestic versus international traffic, service levels, and volumetric and weight-band splits.
Whether used as a competitive analysis tool, a market sizing exercise, or a strategic support document, this report provides valuable insight into the evolving UK parcels market.
For further information or if you want to acquire the report, please contact Agustin Maril: [email protected]
