Marktlink → Sectoren → Services → Logistics

  • Updated February 27, 2026

Logistics Company Sell | Marktlink

In logistics, contract duration is the hidden multiplier. A 3+ year contract base adds 1.0–1.2x to your multiple — not because the revenue is larger, but because buyers can model it. What we see consistently: specialization beats scale. A cold chain specialist at €8M outvalues a generalist at €20M.

Jan Dijkmans

Sector Lead Services • 15 years • 95+ transactions

“In logistics, contract duration is the hidden multiplier. A 3+ year contract base adds 1.0-1.2x to your multiple — not because the revenue is larger, but because buyers can model it. What we see consistently: specialization beats scale. A cold chain specialist at €8M outvalues a generalist at €20M.”

Sector at a Glance

  • Updated March 2, 2026
VALUATION RANGE

0x – 0x

→ +0.1 x vs 2024

EBITDA Multiple
Deals in 2025

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Active Buyers

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Enter your figures → see your position instantly

Valuation Development

How EBITDA multiples in Logistics have moved over five years. E-commerce drove the 2021 peak, overcapacity and cost pressure caused the 2023 dip, and nearshoring plus specialization are fueling selective recovery.

5-Year Multiple Range

2021 PEAK

0.0x avg

E-commerce surge and supply chain chaos created capacity premiums

2023 DIP

0.0x avg

Post-COVID overcapacity, diesel costs, and rate hikes squeezed margins

2025 NOW

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Selective recovery — specialists outperform generalists significantly

Subsegment Analysis

The gap between generalist transport (3.5x) and specialized logistics (7.5x) is one of the widest in any sector.
Permits and specialization create the premium.

Road Transport & Distribution

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0.0x  – 0.0x

+0.1x
Buyer Mix
PE 20% • Strategic 60%
Key Valuation Driver
Fleet ownership vs asset-light
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Warehousing & Fulfillment

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0.0x  – 0x

+0.4x
Buyer Mix
PE 35% • Strategic 45%
Key Valuation Driver
E-commerce contracts & automation
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Specialized Logistics

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0x  – 0.0x

+0.5x
Buyer Mix
PE 30% • Strategic 50%
Key Valuation Driver
Niche permits (pharma, cold chain, hazmat)
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Freight Forwarding & Brokerage

[XX] deals in 2025

Multiple Range

0x  – 0.0x

+0.2x
Buyer Mix
PE 25% • Strategic 55%
Key Valuation Driver
Digital platform & carrier network
Am I in this segment? →

Buyer Landscape 2025

Overall Buyer Type Distribution

  • What drives premium valuations

Long-term contracts (3+ years)

+0.0x to +0.0x

Low client concentration (<20% top 3)

+0.0x to +0.0x

Specialization (cold chain, pharma, hazmat)

+0.0x to +0.0x

Asset-light or modern fleet (<5yr avg age)

+0.0x to +0.0x

Automation/WMS technology in place

+0.0x to +0.0x

Which of these buyers match your firm?

BuyersChecker analyzes your profile against our active buyer database.

Recent Transactions

Four anonymized deals from 2024-2025 with full details on valuations, buyers, and key learnings.

Specialization Premium

Cold Chain Specialist

Temperature-controlled warehousing and transport for food & pharma

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

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HACCP certified
74% contract-based
Temperature permits

Key Insight

Cold chain permits and HACCP certifications created a scarcity premium. The buyer needed temperature-controlled capacity that would take 2+ years to build organically — acquisition was the only realistic path.

Automation Value

E-commerce Fulfillment

Multi-client e-commerce fulfillment center with automated picking

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

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Automated WMS
65% recurring
Multi-client base

Key Insight

Automation was the differentiator. The automated picking system reduced labor dependency and improved margins — PE buyer saw immediate replication potential across their portfolio of fulfillment centers.

Geographic Coverage

Regional Transport Group

Family-owned road transport company with strong Randstad coverage

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

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Randstad coverage
85 trained drivers
Framework contracts

Key Insight

Lower margin typical for road transport, but strategic value in Randstad coverage with trained drivers. The buyer completed their national network through this single acquisition — geographic value trumped margin.

Permit Scarcity

Hazmat Transport Specialist

ADR-certified hazardous materials transport and storage

REVENUE

€0.0M

EBITDA

€0.0M

MARGIN

0%

RECURRING

0%

MULTIPLE

0.0x

DURATION

0 months

ADR certified
68% recurring
12 interested parties

Key Insight

ADR permits are among the hardest to obtain in logistics. International buyer from DACH used this as Benelux entry point — the 12 serious parties confirmed the scarcity premium for permit-based businesses.

Recognize yourself in these cases? Compare your situation.

Market Trends 2025

Nearshoring reshapes supply chains

European reshoring and nearshoring are driving a structural shift. Companies with strategic warehouse locations near production hubs or borders are seeing increased buyer interest as supply chains restructure.

Source: Dealsuite T&L Sector Monitor 2024, MCF 2025

+0%

deal volume YoY

E-commerce fulfillment premium persists

Warehousing & fulfillment consistently trades above general logistics. Automated facilities with e-commerce contracts command the highest premiums — buyers pay for the infrastructure that’s hard to replicate.

Source: MCF Logistics Insights 2025

0.0x

avg warehousing multiple

Specialized logistics: the outlier multiples

Ultra-cold and pharma logistics see exceptional valuations. Frigo-Trans (ultra-cold specialist) traded at 14.5x, Staci (pharma/e-commerce) at 12.0x. Permits, compliance and temperature-controlled capacity create massive barriers.

Source: Deloitte EU T&L M&A Review

0.0x

Frigo-Trans deal

Sustainability as valuation driver

Fleet electrification, emissions reporting, and green warehousing are moving from nice-to-have to must-have. Logistics companies with measurable sustainability programs attract a broader buyer pool.

Source: Deloitte, MCF 2025

0%

buyers cite ESG as factor

What does this mean for your firm?

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Timing Scan

Market timing analysis

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Sale Readiness Test

How prepared are you

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Industry Report 2025

Everything on this page, plus: 12 additional deal cases, detailed subsegment analysis, and 2026 outlook.

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