UK Healthcare Logistics Market Insights and Future Outlook (2025-2035)
The UK healthcare logistics market is characterized by advanced supply chain systems, increasing adoption of digital technologies, and rising demand for efficient cold chain solutions. As the sector evolves, a focus on automation, sustainability, and regulatory compliance will be pivotal in shaping market growth and meeting the specific needs of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biologics industries.
Latest Market Dynamics
Key Drivers
Rising demand for temperature-controlled logistics with the surge in biologics and vaccines; for instance, DHL Supply Chain expanded its temperature-controlled warehousing network in the UK in early 2025 to support the transportation of COVID-19 and other vaccines.
Digital transformation of healthcare supply chains, including the use of IoT and cloud analytics;
deployed AI-powered logistics platforms in Q1 2025 to automate inventory management and real-time tracking across UK healthcare providers.
Key Trends
Increased automation and robotics in logistics centers—Kuehne+Nagel introduced autonomous vehicles in its Milton Keynes facility in April 2025 to boost throughput and accuracy.
Emphasis on sustainability initiatives, such as green logistics fleets—FedEx in June 2025 began operating a fleet of electric delivery vans for medical shipments within major UK cities to reduce carbon emissions.
Key Opportunities
Expansion of e-commerce and online pharmaceutical platforms, as seen with Alloga UK's partnership with NHS Digital in March 2025 for integrating direct-to-patient delivery systems.
Growth in clinical trial logistics services due to rising early-stage drug developments—Movianto UK launched dedicated clinical trial logistics hubs in May 2025 targeting UK-based biotech startups.
Key Challenges
Stringent UK/EU regulatory requirements for medical product storage and transportation—Maersk reported delays in Q2 2025 during new compliance audits for cross-border shipments post-Brexit.
Rising operational costs, particularly energy and labor in warehousing—Cardinal Health UK faced a 15% hike in operational expenditure in early 2025, impacting profit margins.
Key Restraints
Limited availability of skilled labor in logistics sectors; DB Schenker UK announced recruitment challenges for cold chain operators in February 2025 amid heightened demand.
Supply chain disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, including Brexit-related customs hurdles; GEODIS UK reported increased lead times and customs clearance delays in early 2025.
UK Healthcare Logistics Market Share by Type, 2025
Cold chain logistics dominates the UK healthcare logistics market, reflecting the critical need for temperature-controlled transportation and storage of vaccines, biologics, and specialty pharmaceuticals. Non-cold chain logistics also accounts for a significant share, serving the stable medical devices and basic pharmaceuticals sector. Other segments—such as inbound, outbound, reverse logistics, and warehousing services—collectively support the continuously expanding needs for distribution, returns, and storage in the healthcare supply chain.
UK Healthcare Logistics Market Share by Applications, 2025
Pharmaceuticals lead the application segment of the UK healthcare logistics market, owing to robust demand for prescription, OTC, and specialty drugs. Biological products, including vaccines, are a rapidly growing segment due to advancements in personalized medicine and immunization drives. Medical devices and clinical trial materials also capture a notable share, with medical devices further driven by innovation and adoption of minimally invasive technologies across UK healthcare systems.
UK Healthcare Logistics Market Revenue (USD Million), 2020-2035
The UK healthcare logistics market has experienced robust growth from 2020 to 2025, reaching USD 5,400 Million in 2025. Projected revenue is set to climb steadily, crossing USD 8,900 Million by 2030, and surpassing USD 13,200 Million by 2035. The growth trajectory is fueled by increasing demand for cold chain solutions, digital transformation, and continuous expansion of healthcare and biotech sectors in the UK. Market participants are investing in automation, sustainability, and advanced technologies to further drive value in the decade ahead.
UK Healthcare Logistics Market Year-on-Year Growth (%), 2020-2035
Year-on-year (YOY) growth in the UK healthcare logistics market peaked at 7.8% in 2021 as post-pandemic effects drove unprecedented demand. Growth rates stabilized around 6.1% in 2025 due to normalized vaccine logistics and then remain steadily resilient at approximately 5.5% by 2030 as digital transformation and high-value biologic shipments underpin sector expansion. The market shows long-term growth potential with consistent investment in infrastructure and digital innovation.
UK Healthcare Logistics Market Share by Regions, 2025
England maintains the largest share of the UK healthcare logistics market in 2025, commanding 65% of total revenue due to London's position as a healthcare and research hub. Scotland follows with 20%, benefitting from strong pharmaceutical manufacturing bases and R&D facilities, while Wales and Northern Ireland collectively account for 15%, fueled by growing regional healthcare infrastructure and distribution networks.
UK Healthcare Logistics Market Players Share, 2025
DHL Supply Chain leads the UK healthcare logistics market with a 19% share, followed by UPS Healthcare at 15% and Kuehne+Nagel at 13%. Other key players include FedEx (10%), Movianto UK (8%), and Owens & Minor (7%). The remainder is split among companies such as DB Schenker, Cardinal Health, CEVA, Yusen Logistics, and Alloga UK, all contributing to a competitive and innovative market landscape marked by increasing specialization in temperature-controlled and value-added logistics.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers make up the largest segment among healthcare logistics buyers in the UK, accounting for 52% of overall demand. Hospitals and healthcare service providers represent 28%, followed by biotech firms and clinical research organizations (CROs) at 20%. This buyer structure underscores the centrality of pharmaceutical industry needs and emphasizes strong collaborations within the healthcare supply chain.
Study Coverage
Metrics
Details
Years
2020-2035
Base Year
2025
Market Size
5400
Regions
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Segments
By Type: Cold Chain Logistics, Non-Cold Chain Logistics, Inbound Logistics, Outbound Logistics, Reverse Logistics, Warehousing Services; By Application: Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Biologics, Vaccines, Clinical Trial Materials, Others
June 2024: DHL Supply Chain expands its UK cold chain logistics footprint to support increasing demand for vaccine and biologic storage.
July 2024: UPS Healthcare launches AI-powered real-time inventory and order tracking platform for major NHS hospital networks.
August 2024: Movianto UK opens new dedicated clinical trial logistics facility in Manchester to cater to biotech startups.
September 2024: Alloga UK integrates new e-commerce distribution platform for NHS and private pharmacy clients across the UK.
October 2024: FedEx introduces a new fleet of electric vehicles across London dedicated to sustainable medical courier services.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Mike
Lead Industry Analyst
Mike is a Lead Industry Analyst specializing in market research, industry analysis, and business consulting across Logistics. Mike brings a commercially grounded perspective to sectors shaped by changing demand, innovation, and competitive dynamics, helping turn complex market trends into clear strategic insights for business decision-makers. With 10+ years of experience across research, analytics, and strategic advisory roles, Mike has helped organizations translate data into actionable growth strategies.
