Logistics Ifo Index Remains in Mood Downturn
The mood in the German logistics sector remains tense. The current Logistics Ifo Index is at approximately 87.6 points at the end of January 2026. This keeps the business climate significantly below the long-term average. While parts of the industry are experiencing a slight recovery, logistics companies continue to report cautious expectations.
Notably, there is a disparity between industry and logistics. Production figures indicate a moderate stabilization, but transport volumes and utilization rates are only slowly picking up. Many freight forwarders report fluctuating shipment volumes and short-term bookings in the spot market.
Particularly in road freight transport, the margin situation remains strained. High competitive pressure, volatile diesel prices, and rising personnel costs are putting pressure on profitability. In contract logistics, investment decisions are also being postponed. Warehouse operators are carefully evaluating expansions and increasingly relying on flexible space models instead of long-term new constructions.
In the area of sea and air freight, a mixed picture emerges. In locations such as Hamburg or Frankfurt am Main, utilization remains stable, but expectations for the first half of the year remain negative. Companies are keeping their capacity planning defensive and avoiding long-term charter contracts or additional vehicle acquisitions.
Economists see the low index value as a clear signal for investment caution. The negative expectation component suggests that many market participants do not expect a significant increase in demand in the short term. This impacts fleet management, personnel planning, and pricing strategy throughout the supply chain.