Logistics ifo Index Remains in Mood Low
The mood in the German logistics sector remains tense. The current Logistics ifo Index at the end of January 2026 stands at around 87.6 points. Thus, the business climate remains significantly below the long-term average. While parts of the industry are seeing a slight recovery, logistics companies continue to report subdued expectations.
A notable discrepancy exists between industry and logistics. Production figures show a moderate stabilization, but transport volumes and utilization rates are only slowly picking up. Many freight forwarders report fluctuating shipment volumes and last-minute bookings on the spot market.
Particularly in road freight transport, the margin situation remains tight. High competitive pressure, volatile diesel prices, and rising personnel costs are pressing on profitability. In contract logistics, investment decisions are also being postponed. Warehousing operators are cautiously assessing expansions and increasingly relying on flexible space models instead of long-term new constructions.
In the sea and air freight sector, a mixed picture emerges. Locations such as Hamburg and Frankfurt am Main show stable utilization, 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 view the low index value as a clear signal for investment restraint. The negative expectation component indicates that many market participants do not expect a significant increase in demand in the short term. This influences fleet management, personnel planning, and pricing strategy across the entire supply chain.