US parcel volume reaches record high of 21.5 billion in 2021

Announced ahead of its usual fall schedule to meet widespread interest, the Index reveals the continuing impact of the pandemic on the shipping and logistics industries. Pitney Bowes forecasts US parcel volume by 2027 to reach 25-40 billion, with a 5-10 per cent CAGR from 2022-2027.

The latest Index revealed that 59 million parcels were generated in the US each day in 2021 – totalling around 683 parcels per second - compared to 56 million shipped daily in 2020. Per capita parcel volume for the US rose from 62 to 65. For the first time the Parcel Shipping Index includes a ‘per household’ figure, revealing an average of 166 parcels shipped per US household during 2021.

“Last year saw the industry rocked by outside influences as carriers continued to manage the impact of the pandemic,” said Jason Dies, EVP and president Sending Technology Solutions, Pitney Bowes. “Despite these challenges, carrier revenues and parcel volumes reached a record high, showcasing the resiliency of the US consumer and the industry’s ability to absorb their growing appetite for internet retail.”

Consumers’ online shopping behaviours continue to impact parcel volumes and carrier revenues, as some buying habits and preferences established during the pandemic remain firmly in place. BOXpoll by Pitney Bowes, the consumer survey on current events, culture and e-commerce logistics, found almost one in four (23 per cent) US shoppers polled in April 2022 say they are shopping online more than they did earlier in 2022. Around 37 per cent of all purchases made are online.

The global Pitney Bowes Shipping Index, which includes data from 13 countries, will be launched later this year, with data for the remaining 12 countries in the Index - Canada, Brazil, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, China, Japan, Australia and India.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)