Industry representatives say the sector is going through its most severe crisis in over 20 years.
The report, based on a survey of transport firms, found that 54 percent of respondents saw their average annual revenues decline over the past two years, while 38 percent suffered losses exceeding 5 percent.
Looking ahead, 37 percent anticipate further declines, and 14 percent expect their revenues to remain flat.
Maciej Wroński, president of TLP, described the downturn as "the most serious market crisis in over two decades," forcing many companies to reduce fleet sizes and cut jobs.
In extreme cases, businesses have been forced to restructure, liquidate, or declare bankruptcy, he said at a press conference.
The proportion of transport firms involved in bankruptcy or restructuring proceedings across Poland’s economy has risen from 5 percent in 2021 to 13 percent in 2024, the report noted.
For the first time, the number of Polish companies holding EU licenses for international transport has declined, according to data from the General Inspectorate of Road Transport.
Another indicator of the downturn is the drop in driver certificates issued to workers from Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova — something that had never happened before.
Despite the crisis, the report highlights that Poland’s transport industry remains resilient. Companies are adapting by improving efficiency, investing in new technologies, and preparing for a return to growth.
Over the next five years, 70 percent of surveyed firms plan to expand their fleets, 54 percent expect to digitize their processes, and 28 percent aim to develop new logistics services.
Poland's transport sector has been a major success story over the past two decades. When Poland joined the European Union in 2004, domestic companies accounted for just 5 percent of Europe’s freight transport. Today, Polish firms handle 20 percent of the market, surpassing German competitors.
However, further expansion may be difficult, according to Ignacy Morawski, director of the SpotData analytics center, which co-authored the report.
"It seems that 20 percent is a ceiling that’s hard to break through," he said at the press conference, adding that future growth will depend on how well companies adapt to structural challenges.
The report identifies three key trends shaping the sector’s future: market consolidation, efforts to attract more foreign workers, and a shift toward higher-value logistics services.
"Polish transport has strong advantages that will help us not only survive these difficult times but also return to growth," said Wroński. "However, our companies may need to adjust to a completely different operating environment," he added.
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Source: IAR, PAP