In the old days, mail was delivered by horse and wagon. The custom packaging , shipping, and logistics business in the US today is a highly evolved system that continues to expand rapidly—at 4.5% per annum and with no indication of slowing.
U.S. retail e-commerce alone was valued at nearly $1.2 trillion in 2024, according to an eMarketer report. This was an increase of around 7.5% from previous year and represented 16.2% of total retail sales. It is still logical to assume that the overall value of shipments is $1.5 trillion, as U.S. retail expenditures are over $7 trillion. It is likely to increase even further with growing online shopping.
How many packages are delivered each day in the U.S.?
In 2024, there will be approximately 58.8 million packages delivered each day in the U.S. This consists of 23.5 million packages delivered by USPS, 14.2 million by UPS, 11.2 million by FedEx, and 13.2 million by Amazon Logistics. Another 1.7 million packages are delivered each day by regional and independent carriers. At the busiest holiday periods, these figures can increase significantly.
Why Shipping Continues to Grow?
• With the rapid growth of online purchasing, the way individuals shop has really been transformed. Individuals who shop now need fast, affordable, and traceable shipping. Companies have to fulfill these needs; they cannot opt out.
• B2B and e-commerce boom: Delivery is now a large component of consumer and business-to-business (B2B) purchases. Increasing numbers of companies are purchasing items online, which is fueling the demand for logistics.
• Cost saving through shipping: Shipping expenses can account for up to 30% of the total operating expenditure of a shop. Due to this, companies are searching for affordable methods to pack and ship their products.
How is packaging and delivery being transformed through innovation?
• Innovation is rapidly transforming the way products are shipped and packaged in order to serve increasingly more customers. Shipping entities are investing more in smart technology, infrastructure, and automation in order to make things faster, more efficient, and simpler to expand.
• Amazon Logistics has delivered 1.9 billion packages in the United States alone in 2019, an increase of 155% from the previous year. In order to match demand, Amazon employed 275,000 full-time and part-time employees and 100,000 seasonal employees by 2020.
• This momentum continues post-pandemic. Emerging technologies such as drone deliveries, AI-driven tracking solutions, and robotized fulfilment centres are transforming the logistics landscape by setting new standards for speed and customer experience.
What’s in store for U.S. Shipping?
The future of shipping and packaging in America is exciting and competitive. Companies that embrace:
• Automation and robotics
• Sustainable packaging
• Eco-friendly delivery solutions (such as drones and EVs)
…will be best placed to succeed.
The American logistics network is more vital than ever due to the fact that millions of packages flow across the nation on a daily basis. It is also becoming faster, smarter, and more efficient.
