# Kuehne + Nagel **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/kuehne-nagel **Vertical:** Logistics & Supply Chain **Subcategory:** Freight Forwarding **Tier:** Leader **Website:** kuehne-nagel.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Schindellegi Switzerland world's largest ocean and air freight forwarder (SIX: KNIN) at $29.7B TTM revenue Sep 2025; Gartner 3PL Leader 2025 with 85,000 employees in 100 countries competing with DHL and Expeditors for global freight forwarding. ## Company Overview Kuehne + Nagel International AG is a Schindellegi, Switzerland-headquartered global logistics company — listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: KNIN) and controlled by Klaus-Michael Kühne via Kühne Holding and Kühne Foundation — operating as the world's largest ocean freight forwarder and the largest air freight forwarder by volume, with trailing 12-month revenues of approximately $29.7 billion as of September 2025 and approximately 85,000 employees across 1,300 sites in ~100 countries. Kuehne + Nagel serves major industries including aerospace, automotive, fast-moving consumer goods, high-tech and consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and retail through services spanning sea logistics (container freight, break bulk), air logistics (charter, time-definite express), road logistics (full truckload, LTL), and contract logistics (warehousing, distribution, e-commerce fulfillment). Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for Third-Party Logistics 2025. Founded in 1890 (135+ year history). Kuehne + Nagel's freight forwarding model addresses the supply chain complexity of moving commercial cargo across international borders: a pharmaceutical manufacturer exporting temperature-controlled biologics from Germany to Japan, an electronics OEM sourcing components from Taiwan to assemble in Mexico, or a retail brand managing seasonal inventory from Chinese factories to European distribution centers needs a freight partner that can book capacity across ocean carriers, air cargo networks, and ground trucking — negotiate rates at the scale that only major forwarders can access, manage customs documentation across multiple countries, and provide end-to-end visibility from factory to distribution center. KN's scale (the largest volume buyer in ocean and air freight globally) provides procurement leverage for competitive rates, while its digital platform myKN provides customers with real-time shipment visibility, document management, and supply chain analytics. In 2025, Kuehne + Nagel competes in the global freight forwarding, contract logistics, and supply chain services market with DHL Global Forwarding (Deutsche Post, revenue $25B+ forwarding), Expeditors International (NASDAQ: EXPD, freight forwarding, $16B revenue), and DB Schenker (Deutsche Bahn subsidiary, global logistics, $20B+ revenue) for multinational corporate global freight forwarding and contract logistics contract adoption. Kühne Holding's majority ownership provides long-term strategic stability without quarterly earnings pressure from public shareholders. The pharmaceutical and healthcare cold chain logistics expansion positions Kuehne + Nagel for the growing biologics and cell therapy cargo that requires temperature-controlled handling expertise. The 2025 strategy focuses on expanding the e-commerce contract logistics capabilities (consumer fulfillment competing with DHL Supply Chain), growing the lead logistics provider (LLP) model for managing complex multi-mode supply chains for automotive and industrial customers, and building the digital customs brokerage automation for faster clearance across key trade lanes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What makes Kuehne + Nagel a global leader? Kuehne + Nagel is the global number one in air and sea logistics with strong market positions in road and contract logistics, operating 1,300 sites across nearly 100 countries with 85,000 employees. ### How large is Kuehne + Nagel's annual revenue? As of September 2025, Kuehne + Nagel reported trailing 12-month revenue of $29.7 billion, with H1 2025 net turnover of CHF 12.5 billion (up 8% year-over-year). ### Which business unit generates the most revenue? Sea Logistics has traditionally accounted for the largest part of the business, contributing approximately 40% of the group's revenue, followed by Air Logistics, Contract Logistics, and Road Logistics. ### How much air freight does Kuehne + Nagel handle? Kuehne + Nagel handled 2.1 million tonnes of air freight in 2024, a 6% increase from the previous year, with particularly strong growth in perishables, semiconductors, and cloud infrastructure. ### What industries does Kuehne + Nagel serve? Kuehne + Nagel serves aerospace, automotive, fast-moving consumer goods, high-tech & consumer electronics, industrial goods, oil & gas, retail, and pharma & healthcare industries. ### Where is Kuehne + Nagel headquartered? Kuehne + Nagel International AG is headquartered in Schindellegi, Schwyz, Switzerland, after adopting a holding company structure in 1975. ### Who owns Kuehne + Nagel? The main owner and operator is Klaus-Michael Kühne via his Kühne Holding and Kühne Foundation, maintaining family ownership of the 135-year-old company. ### What recent acquisitions has Kuehne + Nagel made? Recent acquisitions include IMC Logistics (51% stake) in the United States, City Zone Express in Malaysia, customs broker Farrow in Canada, and TDN in Spain (May 2025). ### What is Kuehne + Nagel's commitment to sustainability? As a member of the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), Kuehne + Nagel is committed to reducing its environmental footprint and supporting customers with low-carbon logistics solutions, including highly automated sustainable facilities. ### How does Kuehne + Nagel rank in workplace culture? Kuehne + Nagel ranks #1 in Overall Culture Score on Comparably versus its competitors and is certified as a Great Place to Work, emphasizing diversity and inclusion through its Balance and Belonging program. ### What is the company's employee satisfaction level? Employees are most satisfied with Environment, Manager, and Office Culture categories, with the company fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and belonging across its global workforce. ### When was Kuehne + Nagel founded? Kuehne + Nagel was founded on July 1, 1890 in Bremen, Germany by August Kühne and Friedrich Nagel, making it over 135 years old. ## Tags b2b, supply-chain, transportation, global, public --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*