The latest BHV Bremische Hafen und Logistikvertretung’s project logistics monitor shows a cautious outlook for the sector in 2025. Uncertainty surrounding trade policies, rising costs, and supply chain disruptions weigh heavily on expectations.
The association represents around 250 companies from the logistics, port and transport industries in Bremen and Bremerhaven, Germany. BHV’s Project Logistics Monitor 2025 finds that both service providers and shippers anticipate declines (33 percent) or stagnation (38 percent) in the broader project logistics market. Only 29 percent expect the market to grow.
Expectations among project logistics service providers for their own businesses in 2025 are more pessimistic. Only 17 percent of companies anticipate an increase in export volumes or domestic shipments. By contrast, 47 percent expect a decline in export volumes.
BHV said that a major factor creating uncertainty is the lack of clarity regarding trade and Customs regulations, particularly in dealings with China and the USA. Moreover, there is uncertainty over how re-industrialisation efforts announced by US president Donald Trump, coupled with a renewed focus on fossil fuels in the USA, will impact business volumes.
When reviewing 2024, the survey finds that the project logistics sector had a fairly satisfactory year. 47 percent of companies reported better business performance than the previous year, 21 percent reported stability, and 32 percent saw a decline.
Rising costs and price increases (59 percent) was identified as the most significant factor affecting business performance, followed by ongoing disruptions in global supply chains (45 percent). The Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea had a significant impact, affecting 30 percent of respondents.
To remain competitive, companies continue to emphasise the personal touch in business dealings, something that has long been regarded as a critical factor in project logistics. However, for the first time, innovative logistics concepts emerged as equally important (both at 76 percent). Despite this, BHV finds that the sector remains hesitant in adopting new technologies.
Only one-third of respondents currently utilise artificial intelligence (AI), 26 percent rely on Big Data, only 16.3 percent employ optimisation algorithms, while 28 percent of companies do not use any of these tools.
On the positive side, despite cautious business expectations, 32 percent of surveyed companies plan to increase their project logistics workforce, while 58 percent intend to maintain current employment levels. Only 11 percent anticipate job reductions. However, a shortage of qualified applicants remains a pressing issue with 68 percent of companies struggling to find candidates for commercial roles; in contrast, only 23 percent report difficulties in filling operational roles.
The anonymous survey was conducted in February 2025, with nearly 70 service providers and shippers participating.
