FedEx expects record volumes this holiday season
FedEx is expecting that it will move a record-breaking 317m shipments between Black Friday and Christmas Eve this year. If the company’s forecast proves accurate, it will mark a 12.4% increase in year-over-year seasonal volume.
This year’s season, which includes one more day than 2014, is expected to be bolstered by three volume “spikes”, including Cyber Monday and the first two Mondays in December, in which FedEx expects to move more than double its average daily volume.
“FedEx expects to see a record number of shipments move through our global network between Black Friday and Christmas Eve,” said Frederick W. Smith, CEO of FedEx Corp. “The shift in consumer shopping patterns, fueled by the rise of e-commerce, continues to drive our volume. Our strategic investments, unmatched flexible global network, and more than 325,000 dedicated team members around the world are ready to help the holidays arrive again this year.”
The surge in demand over the holiday season can be a mixed blessing for delivery companies. Clearly, there is extra business to be won – but there is also a strong element of unpredictability, as the e-commerce industry is still growing and each new holiday season can be a revelation.
In the UK, analysts are predicting that Black Friday (which falls on 27 November this year) could be the UK’s first £1bn online shopping day.
