March 5, 2026
Global logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel International AG has reported solid financial results for 2025, demonstrating resilience and strategic focus in what executives describe as a challenging global economic environment.
Resilient performance in a difficult year
Commenting on the results, CEO Stefan Paul said the company continued to deliver growth despite deteriorating market conditions.
“In a year marked by a deteriorating economic environment, we continued to deliver growth through the consistent execution of our strategy,” he noted.
A key highlight for the group was its strengthened position in Air Logistics. As a logistics partner to global cloud and server infrastructure providers, Kuehne+Nagel gained significant market share in air freight, reinforcing its unchanged global No. 1 ranking in both sea and air freight markets on a volume basis.
For the floriculture sector, which depends heavily on reliable, time-sensitive air freight solutions — such stability among leading global forwarders remains critical, particularly as exporters navigate fluctuating demand and freight dynamics.
Strategic expansion and cost discipline
According to Chairman Dr. Joerg Wolle, the company’s clear strategy and network expansion were central to its performance.
“In times of seriously challenging market conditions, Kuehne+Nagel once again demonstrated its performance capabilities in 2025,” he said.
The expansion of networks in key markets, including North America and Asia, alongside disciplined cost measures launched in autumn 2025, contributed to the positive outcome. A cost-reduction programme implemented in the fourth quarter further strengthened operational efficiency.
AI-driven productivity gains
Looking ahead, the accelerated deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) is set to become a core strategic pillar for the company. Built upon its established global networks and proprietary technology, AI integration is expected to deliver material productivity gains over the next 18 months, with significant efficiency improvements anticipated from 2027 onward.
For exporters of perishable products such as fresh flowers, enhanced digitalisation and AI-driven logistics optimisation could translate into improved routing, better capacity management and greater reliability across supply chains.
Strong cash flow and shareholder returns
Kuehne+Nagel reported a high free cash flow of CHF 917 million for 2025, underscoring its financial strength. The Board of Directors has proposed a dividend of CHF 6.00 per share, representing a yield of 3.5 percent, allowing shareholders to participate in the company’s continued success.
As global trade faces ongoing economic headwinds, the group’s performance signals stability within the logistics sector, a reassuring development for industries such as floriculture, where dependable freight partnerships remain a cornerstone of competitiveness in international markets.