Vietnam Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Vietnam Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Vietnamese courier, express, and parcel (CEP) market is anticipated to register a CAGR of more than 5.2% over the forecast period. The growth in the e-commerce sector drives the market. Foreign investments and increasing demand for courier services in the country propel market growth.

• Vietnam is a rapidly developing manufacturing powerhouse. As a result of China's trade war with the United States, Vietnam has welcomed firms looking to relocate manufacturing away from China. Aside from the obstacles and constraints, the logistics industry in Vietnam benefits from free trade agreements and the rapid rise of e-commerce. The Vietnamese freight and logistics industry is being propelled forward by rapid economic growth, increasing domestic production, expanding consumption, and rapid e-commerce. Two market constraints are a lack of transportation infrastructure and high logistical costs. Contract logistics is one of the most notable developments in the Vietnamese freight and logistics industry.
• The country's growing e-commerce enables the formation of start-ups with matching technologies, requiring more efficient logistics services, particularly in the last-mile delivery and value-added services sectors. Vietnam's logistics economy is liberalizing, allowing new businesses to capitalize on increased demand. Vietnam also signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to broaden the scope of its trade treaties to include nearly all of the world's major economies. As a result, Vietnam is well-positioned to become a global industrial and commercial hub. Vietnam's economy is one of the fastest growing in the region, and it has established itself as a center for investment and trade. A survey predicted that Vietnam's e-commerce sector would be the fastest growing in Southeast Asia by 2026.
• With the dramatic increase in the number of e-commerce businesses and the need to rent space to store, categorize, and process orders, many businesses have recognized the trend and are investing in a warehouse system and a logistics center to handle the transportation, order fulfillment, and professional distribution in a modern, high-quality manner. The cold storage industry in Vietnam, one of the largest real estate service businesses, has gained significant attractiveness in the previous two years, driven by import and export orders. Many businesses invest in developing technological platforms and logistical systems, expanding warehouses, and expanding distribution locations to meet the needs of their customers.
• Under Vietnam's World Trade Organization service sector commitments, the country has opened certain types of logistic services to foreign investors, albeit with restrictions in some cases. For example, in some stages of logistics in Vietnam, such as warehousing, freight agency, and delivery services, foreign investors can establish a 100% foreign-owned company. As a result, these are favorable conditions for foreign firms to invest in logistics in Vietnam. As investment opportunities in logistics expand, some US players have expressed interest in entering the Vietnamese market. Vietnam's logistics market is currently attracting over 30,000 enterprises in the fields of transportation, warehousing, postal services, and delivery. Notably, 30 transnational logistics service providers, including DHL, FedEx, Maersk, APL Logistics and UPS, are present in Vietnam.

According to the Vietnam E-commerce Association, e-commerce revenue in Vietnam was estimated to increase by about 15% to USD 13.2 billion in 2022. With the rapid change in online shopping habits in Vietnam, its e-commerce and trade promotion activities in the online environment continue to grow rapidly and sustainably. However, many businesses with high-quality goods and products are still unfamiliar with information technology and e-commerce and are hesitant to choose trade promotions on online platforms. To achieve the goal of national digital transformation, all enterprises must use information technology and e-commerce in their business activities.

The Vietnamese government views digital transformation in Vietnam as critical to maintaining growth and prosperity. Vietnam is said to be one of the fastest-growing digital economies in Southeast Asia, with a projected 28% increase in Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) in 2022. Vietnam's digital sector is expected to contribute 30% of the country's GDP by 2030. The European Union has significantly impacted the digital economy's development through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The agreement establishes cross-sectoral initiatives such as increased investment, updating EU regulations, and the adoption of non-legislative measures to improve quality of life, among other things.

By encouraging the development of electronic commerce between the EU and Vietnam and by improving Vietnam's regulatory environment for digital transformation, the EVFTA will help boost Vietnam's digital economy and development, which can be achieved through the consistent and fruitful discussion of the regulatory issues raised by e-commerce and digitalization. Vietnam's e-commerce regulations, laws, and frameworks will gradually improve, advancing and enabling the country's digital transformation. Due to the EVFTA opportunities, Vietnamese businesses will undergo digital transformation to meet European market standards. Vietnamese manufacturers must invest in better technology to control product quality.

E-commerce is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Vietnamese digital economy. According to the Vietnam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency, the country's e-commerce market is growing at a 35% annual rate, which is 2.5 times faster than Japan. The expansion of e-commerce in Vietnam is expected to generate USD 16.4 billion in revenue, a record for this industry. More foreign direct investments were expected in Vietnam's e-commerce market in 2022. Businesses from China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States have begun to expand their online presence on regional e-commerce platforms. Five of Southeast Asia's most popular e-commerce platforms are Lazada, Shopee, Tiki, Sendo, and The Gioi Di Dong, and Vietnam is one of their strongest markets.

Despite regulatory barriers, more foreign investment is pouring into Vietnam's logistics market to capitalize on development opportunities following the pandemic. Experts predict that as Vietnam's role in the global supply chain grows, the logistics sector, which is still dominated by smaller domestic players with traditional warehouses, will develop faster. GLP recently announced the establishment of GLP Vietnam Development Partners with a USD 1.1 billion investment. Similarly, WHA Corporation PCL (Thailand) announced a five-year plan to invest VND 50 billion (USD 1.51 billion) in a new revenue stream. A portion of this will go toward expansion in Vietnam. In the first quarter of this year, WHA intends to expand a 352-hectare industrial park in Nghe An province.

The 13th National Party Congress emphasized the importance of a strong service sector based on the application of modern scientific and technological achievements, particularly higher value-added services. Foreign investors are permitted to establish an enterprise, contribute capital, or purchase shares in an enterprise that operates freight services via inland waterways or railways, with an overseas capital contribution not exceeding 49% of the total legal capital. Investment in road freight services is carried out through these forms or a business cooperation contract, but with foreign capital contribution not exceeding 51% of total legal capital, and 100% of the enterprise's drivers must be Vietnamese citizens.

The Vietnamese courier, express, and parcel (CEP) market is fragmented and competitive with a large number of local, regional, and global players. Domestic deliveries are dominated by companies like Vietnam Post and Viettel Post, while DHL, UPS, and FedEx hold the majority of the share in international CEP deliveries. Apart from the established companies gaining significant market shares, new start-ups, such as Giao Hang Nhanh (GHN), are entering the market, which is expanding fast and gaining huge growth rates. Technology is key in serving the growing demand. Viettel Post has been growing rapidly in recent times, increasing its market share, and is expected to take a major share of the Vietnamese CEP market in the forecast period. The investment of the company in technology is believed to be the main reason behind its huge growth.

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