Kuehne + Nagel

What Kuehne + Nagel does

Kuehne+Nagel International AG is a publicly listed Swiss freight forwarder and supply chain manager, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Switzerland, operating across sea, air, road, and contract logistics with ~85,000 employees at ~1,300 sites in ~100 countries serving 400,000+ customers. The company runs an asset-light model that procures cargo capacity from carriers and resells it through direct enterprise sales teams organised around seven verticals (aerospace, automotive, healthcare, high-tech, consumer, industrial, perishables), supplemented by digital self-service via the myKN portal and dedicated industry solutions such as HealthChain-certified cold chain and the SAF Certification Programme. Revenue is generated primarily through transaction fees on freight forwarding (Sea, Air, Road) and managed services for contract logistics, with FY2025 net turnover of approximately $42.4 billion and reported EBIT of CHF 1.24 billion. Recent strategy emphasises North American landside container logistics (IMC Logistics), India expansion to ~1 million sqm of warehousing by 2030, a CHF 200 million structural cost reduction programme, and AI-led digital transformation of the freight forwarding workflow.

Name

Kuehne + Nagel

Legal name

Kuehne+Nagel International AG

Website

https://home.kuehne-nagel.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Kuehne+Nagel is a Swiss-listed global freight forwarder and contract logistics provider operating across sea, air, road, and warehousing modes for ~400,000 customers in seven industry verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (424710)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Wholesale-Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods (5190)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Parts & Service‑Critical (Spare Parts, Field Service) (TLAAADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Non-Hazmat Specialized Handling) (TLAIALAJ)

Keywords

• Global freight forwarding
• Supply chain management
• Contract logistics services
• Warehousing and distribution
• Customs brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schönefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sea Logistics: Sea freight forwarding services generating revenue through volume-based freight rates and margin on cargo space procurement. EBIT declined 46% YoY in Q1 2026 to CHF 113 million due to Middle East disruptions and normalized freight rates.
2. Air Logistics: Air cargo forwarding services including own-controlled air freight network expansion in early June 2026. Revenue generated from freight rates, with margin pressure from softer demand and normalized volumes.
3. Contract Logistics: Warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution services including temperature-controlled facilities. Generates recurring revenue from long-term contracts with enterprise customers. Road Logistics posted 32% EBIT rise in Q1 2026.
4. Road Logistics: Overland transportation services across global road networks, generating transaction-based revenue. Strong performance with 32% EBIT growth in Q1 2026 partially offset sea freight losses.
5. Customs Clearance and Consulting: Customs brokerage and trade consulting services for import/export compliance, part of integrated supply chain solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kuehne+Nagel provides international freight forwarding and integrated supply chain solutions across sea, air, and road transport modes, supplemented by contract logistics (warehousing, fulfilment, distribution), customs brokerage, e-commerce, cold chain, and project logistics. The company operates an asset-light model connecting ~400,000 customers across ~100 countries through ~1,300 sites and ~85,000 employees. Its service portfolio is delivered alongside digital tools such as the myKN tracking portal and the HealthChain quality standard for pharmaceutical logistics.

Product overview

Kuehne+Nagel's product portfolio consists of a multi-modal logistics platform organized around four core divisions: Sea Logistics, Air Logistics, Road Logistics, and Contract Logistics. These are supported by value-added services including Customs Clearance, Cargo Insurance, E-commerce, Project Logistics, and Sustainable Logistics. The company's digital layer is anchored by the myKN platform, which enables quote, booking, and tracking across all transport modes, while Seaexplorer provides port visibility. Healthcare capabilities are built on the HealthChain quality standard for GxP compliance. The company operates industry-specific solutions for Aerospace, Automotive and New Mobility, Consumer, Healthcare, High-Tech and Semicon, Industrial, and Perishables sectors, serving 400,000 customers globally with operations in ~100 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAF Certification Programme: Sustainable Aviation Fuel certification programme helping customers reduce Scope 3 emissions and advance supply chain decarbonisation
• Ship Green
• MyKN
• HealthChain
• Seaexplorer

Products and services

• Sea Freight

Quantifiable outcome

• ~2,979 tonnes CO₂e avoided through Hapag-Lloyd biofuel partnership covering ~3,300 TEU on East Asia to North Europe lane (April–December 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google CloudcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026Kuehne+Nagel and Google Cloud expanded their sustainable aviation fuel partnership, with an agreement to purchase up to 5.2 million litres of SAF in 2026 for Google Cloud's air freight shipments. The deal is expected to reduce up to 12,600 tonnes of CO₂e emissions and serves as a pilot for future sustainability initiatives between the two companies. The collaboration supports Kuehne+Nagel's SAF certification programme and helps Google Cloud reduce Scope 3 emissions.
• MCH GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026MCH Group appointed Kuehne+Nagel as Official Logistics Partner for five years starting July 1, 2026. Covers Messe Basel, Messe Zurich, and Beaulieu Lausanne — over 182,000 sqm of exhibition space supporting 150+ events annually. Includes Art Basel shows in Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, Miami Beach, and Qatar, as well as Swissbau and Giardina. Kuehne+Nagel provides comprehensive logistics services including international shipping and on-site handling.
• Hapag-LloydcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026First joint sustainable ocean freight initiative between Hapag-Lloyd and Kuehne+Nagel, using Hapag-Lloyd's Ship Green product with certified waste-based biofuels. Covers approximately 3,300 TEU of cargo on the East Asia to North Europe trade lane from April to December 2026, projected to avoid around 2,979 tonnes of CO₂e emissions. Uses a book-and-claim chain-of-custody mechanism. Both companies aim for net-zero by 2045 (Hapag-Lloyd) and 2050 (Kuehne+Nagel).
• IMC LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Kuehne+Nagel announced plans to acquire a majority stake in IMC Logistics, a US-based marine drayage provider. The transaction is intended to strengthen Kuehne+Nagel's North American landside container logistics capabilities and combines its global network with specialized regional expertise in the US market.
• Changan UKminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Kuehne+Nagel operates a 3,600 sq. m temperature-controlled parts warehouse for Changan UK at East Midlands Gateway. Stores parts imported from Changan's parent company in China and supports efficient distribution to the dealer network, aligning with Changan's five-year aftersales growth strategy and broader 'Vast Ocean Plan' for global expansion.
• CasaideascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Seven-year logistics partnership expanded with a 30,000 m² semi-automated distribution centre in Santiago, Chile, operational since 2025. Handles 34.8 million inbound units and distributes 24.7 million products to 40+ stores nationwide, processing ~190,000 digital orders annually. Supports Casaideas' omnichannel growth strategy with energy-efficient and ESG-aligned operations.
• FarrowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Kuehne+Nagel set to acquire Farrow in early 2024 (subject to regulatory approval). The acquisition aims to enhance Kuehne+Nagel's capabilities in customs brokerage, trade consulting, and logistics while preserving Farrow's brand and leadership team. Represents strategic expansion in North American customs brokerage services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nippon Express Holdings: Japan's largest freight forwarder and 3PL; competes globally in air, ocean, and contract logistics with strong Asia-Pacific presence overlapping K+N's regional footprint.
• DHL Global Forwarding (Deutsche Post DHL): Air and ocean freight forwarding arm of Deutsche Post DHL Group; competes head-on with K+N across sea, air, road, and contract logistics, including DHL's strong cold-chain and life-sciences capabilities that overlap with K+N's HealthChain franchise.
• Expeditors International: US-listed, asset-light freight forwarder focused on sea and air freight with similar customer profile (enterprise shippers) and margin structure. Closest publicly traded pure-play comparable on business model.
• DSV A/S: Denmark-based global freight forwarder and one of the largest in the world following its 2024 acquisition of DB Schenker. Direct competitor across sea, air, and road forwarding with overlapping customer base and asset-light model, and the most direct head-to-head peer to K+N by scale and service mix.
• CEVA Logistics (CMA CGM): Global 3PL owned by CMA CGM; competes with K+N across contract logistics, sea-air forwarding, and finished-vehicle logistics, with increasing integration into ocean carrier parent.
• Maersk Logistics & Services: Logistics arm of A.P. Møller-Mærsk integrating ocean carrier capacity with end-to-end forwarding; competes with K+N in sea freight forwarding and contract logistics, particularly for Asia-Europe lanes.
• Sinotrans Limited: China's largest logistics company and state-affiliated freight forwarder; a direct competitor in Asia-origin ocean and air freight where K+N's Apex Logistics acquisition is positioned to compete.
• Bolloré Logistics: France-headquartered freight forwarder and contract logistics provider; competes with K+N in Europe, Africa, and luxury/fashion verticals under similar asset-light approach.

Broad incumbents

• UPS Supply Chain Solutions: Freight forwarding and contract logistics arm of UPS; broader portfolio spans parcel and supply chain services but directly competes with K+N in air freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and healthcare logistics.

Emerging players

• XPO Logistics / GXO Logistics: Contract logistics and warehousing peers (XPO spun off GXO). GXO in particular competes with K+N Contract Logistics in e-commerce and retail fulfillment, including omnichannel distribution centers similar to the Casaideas DC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kuehne-nagel
• Xx.com/KNLogistics
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kuehne-Nagel-192010790809056

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A32 records

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kuehne + Nagel