U.S. Pharmaceutical Third-party Logistics Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Branded, Cell Therapy, Biosimilar), By Temperature (Ambient, Refrigerated), By Therapeutic Area, By Manufacturer Size, By Service, And Segment Forecasts, 2025 - 2030

Market Size & Trends

The U.S. pharmaceutical third-party logistics services market size was estimated at USD 45.37 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.90% from 2025 to 2030. The growth of the market is mainly a significant shift towards e-commerce, growing demand for outsourcing services, and rising demand for cold chain logistics. The rise of online pharmacies and direct-to-consumer drug sales has created new operational challenges for pharmaceutical companies, necessitating specialized services. third-party logistics (3PL) providers offers safe, timely, and temperature-controlled delivery of products, particularly for prescription drugs, some of which may be sensitive to environmental factors such as heat and humidity.

Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly outsourcing their activities to third party companies to manage complex aspects of their supply chains. Pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors are turning to 3PL providers to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. Outsourcing functions such as warehousing, distribution, inventory management, and cold chain logistics allows pharmaceutical companies to focus on their core competencies, such as research, development, and marketing, while leveraging the expertise of specialized 3PL providers to optimize their supply chain operations. For instance, companies such as McKesson and Cardinal Health have established themselves as one of the prominent service providers in the 3PL space by offering tailored solutions that meet the unique demands of pharmaceutical distribution.

Moreover, the growing application of reverse logistics in the biopharmaceutical industry is driving significant growth in the third-party logistics market, focusing on critical needs for cost efficiency, regulatory compliance, and environmental responsibility. Reverse logistics, which involves product return, disposal, and recycling, is increasingly important due to rising product recalls and unused drug stockpiles. Product recalls, often due to shorter product life cycles and increased product variety, necessitate robust reverse logistics systems to manage returns effectively.

Market Concentration & Characteristics

The U.S. industry is highly innovative, driven by advancements in technology, regulatory compliance, and the need for efficient and secure supply chains. Key innovations include automation, AI for predictive analytics, IoT for real-time tracking, and blockchain for transparency and security.

The level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the industry has been relatively high in recent years. The growth is due to growing demand for integrated, efficient, and innovative supply chain solutions. Key drivers for M&A in this sector include the need to expand service offerings, gain access to new technologies, enhance geographic coverage, and meet the increasing complexity of pharmaceutical distribution.

Regulations have a significant impact on the U.S. industry, as they ensure the safety, security, and integrity of pharmaceutical products throughout the supply chain. Key regulations, such as the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), and Good Distribution Practices (GDP), mandate strict standards for transportation, storage, and handling of drugs, especially temperature-sensitive and controlled substances. These regulatory requirements are driving the 3PL providers to invest in specialized infrastructure like temperature-controlled facilities, secure packaging, and real-time tracking systems to maintain compliance.

Service expansion in the U.S. industry is a key strategy for providers to stay competitive and meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical industry. As the market grows, 3PL companies are expanding their service offerings beyond traditional transportation and storage to include value-added services such as cold chain logistics, packaging, labeling, kitting, and regulatory compliance management.

Regional expansion in the industry is driven by the growing demand for efficient and reliable pharmaceutical distribution across diverse geographic areas. 3PL providers are expanding their operations to strategically located hubs and distribution centers to enhance service delivery, reduce transit times, and improve last-mile logistics. This expansion allows providers to better serve both urban and rural areas, ensuring faster access to critical pharmaceuticals, especially temperature-sensitive and high-value drugs.

Product Type Insights

The branded drugs segment dominated and accounted for 38.97% of the total revenue share in 2024. This segment is driven by the growing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions. The increasing cases of these condition have led to the rising demand for branded drugs in the U.S. According to an article published by the American Diabetes Association in November 2023, there were approximately 38.4 million or 11.6% of the population, were living with diabetes in the U.S. among them, 2 million individuals have type 1 diabetes, which includes approximately 304,000 children and adolescents. Thus, increasing cases of diabetes has led to the growing demand for branded drugs which requires precise handling, temperature-controlled storage, and timely delivery to ensure their effectiveness.

Cell therapy segment is projected to witness the fastest growth from 2025 to 2030 owing to to significant advancements in regenerative medicine and the increasing number of clinical trials for various conditions, including cancer, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Cell therapy requires temperature-controlled environments, as many cell-based treatments are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. This necessitates a robust cold chain logistics system, with strict protocols for refrigerated transport and real-time monitoring to ensure that the cells remain viable until they reach their destination.

Temperature Insights

The ambient segment dominated the market in 2024. The segment driven by the growing demand for the efficient transportation and storage of non-temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products. As pharmaceutical companies seek reliable, cost-effective solutions for the distribution of drugs that do not require temperature-controlled environments, ambient 3PL services have become increasingly essential. These services ensure timely delivery, reduced operational costs, and optimized supply chain management, further fueling their prominence in the market. In addition, advancements in logistics technology, such as real-time tracking and improved warehouse management systems, have enhanced the effectiveness and competitiveness of ambient 3PL services in the pharmaceutical sector.

The refrigerated segment is projected to witness considerable growth of 10.3% in the coming years owing to the increasing demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines, biologics, and specialty drugs. As the need for precise temperature control during transportation and storage becomes more critical, pharmaceutical companies are turning to refrigerated 3PL providers to ensure the integrity and efficacy of these sensitive products. Moreover, advancements in cold chain technology, along with stricter regulatory requirements and the expansion of global distribution networks, are expected to further propel the growth of this segment

Therapeutic Area Insights

The oncology segment dominated the market in 2024. This segment is likely to expand with an increasing number of cancer cases across the country. Furthermore, recent trends have shown a shifting trend in pharmaceutical products with significant advancements made in the treatment of cancer. In addition, the pharmaceutical sector has experienced significant growth due to the rising demand for oncology drugs & therapies, fueled by innovative chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies approaches. Increasing pharmaceutical R&D investments, patent expirations, and demand for oncology drugs & biologic innovations are the factors driving the oncology 3PL market.

The neurology segment is projected to witness significant growth from 2025 to 2030. Neurological disorders encompass a broad range of conditions affecting the nervous system, leading to disruptions in normal brain function, spinal cord activity, and interactions of peripheral nerves. These disorders span from cognitive impairment & challenges in movement to sensory deficits and shifts in behavior. Furthermore, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly focusing on significant investments in the development of drugs and supply chain management. The growing complexity of drug development and increased competition among market players are important factors supporting the requirement for an advanced supply chain.

Manufacturer Size Insights

The large segment dominated the U.S. pharmaceutical third-party logistics (3PL) services industry in 2024. The large manufacturers have extensive resources and established supply chains. These companies typically have significant production capacities and a broad portfolio of products, which allows them to negotiate favorable terms with logistics providers. Their scale enables them to leverage advanced technologies for inventory management, tracking, and distribution, resulting in enhanced efficiency and reduced costs.

The medium segment is projected to witness a considerable CAGR of 9.8% in the coming years. Medium-sized manufacturers are collaborating with third-party logistic service providers to address challenges related to capacity, cost control, and global distribution. As these companies expand their market reach, they seek third-party logistics services to streamline their operations and reduce the complexities associated with managing distribution networks. 3PL providers offer scalable solutions that enable medium-sized manufacturers to leverage global networks and expertise without having to invest heavily in their own logistics infrastructure.

Service Insights

The storage and shipping segment dominated market in 2024. With the increasingly competitive business landscape and complex process, several pharmaceutical companies are constantly seeking new ways to optimize their supply chain productivity and ensure compliance with industry regulations, further adopting the 3PL storage and shipping services. This involves selecting a specific 3PL that offers high-quality storage and shipping of products, meeting the required specifications, and minimizing the risk of product degradation or contamination.

The DSCSA and serialization services segment is projected to witness considerable growth from 2025 to 2030, owing to the increasing need for enhanced drug traceability and security within the pharmaceutical supply chain. As regulations around drug tracking and counterfeit prevention tighten, pharmaceutical companies are increasingly adopting serialization technologies to comply with the DSCSA requirements. These services enable the unique identification of pharmaceutical products, ensuring transparency, reducing fraud, and improving patient safety,

Key U.S. Pharmaceutical Third-party Logistics Services Company Insights

Key players operating in the U.S. pharmaceutical third-party logistics (3PL) services industry are undertaking various initiatives to strengthen their market presence and increase the reach of their services. Companies such as CEVA Logistics, Cencora Corporation (ICS), DB SCHENKER, and Kuehne+Nagel, are continuously involved in expanding their services, collaborating, and engaging in partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions of companies. These are key strategic initiatives that are influencing the industry dynamics. For instance, in August 2023, Kuehne and Nagel announced the agreement with FFF Enterprises, Inc. to provide a cold-chain distribution network that meets stringent storage requirements and handles the demands of COVID-19 vaccines.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Kuehne+Nagel acquired a 51% stake in IMC Logistics, a leading U.S. marine drayage provider specializing in end-to-end transportation between seaports, rail hubs, and inland facilities. This move strengthened Kuehne+Nagel's access to North America's logistics network, offering enhanced flexibility amidst supply chain challenges.

• In July 2024, CEVA Logistics, part of the CMA CGM Group, introduced a new organizational structure to streamline customer access to its global logistics capabilities. This new approach enhanced services across air, ocean, ground, and rail transport, contract logistics, finished vehicle logistics, project logistics, and customs solutions.

• In May 2023, Yaral Pharma, the U.S. generics subsidiary of IBSA, has expanded its partnership with EVERSANA to enhance the commercialization of its pain and endocrinology portfolio in the U.S. Through this acquisition, EVERSANA delivered comprehensive support, including third-party logistics (3PL) and operational services, ensuring seamless customer service and market expansion.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Third-party Logistics Services Market Report Scope

U.S. Pharmaceutical Third-party Logistics Services Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at country level and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the U.S. pharmaceutical third-party logistics (3PL) services market report based on product type, temperature, therapeutic area, manufacturer size, and service.

• Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Branded

  • Generic

  • Biosimilar

  • Vaccine

  • Cell Therapy

  • Gene Therapy

  • Others

• Temperature Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Ambient

  • Refrigerated

  • Frozen

  • Ultra-frozen/Deep-Frozen

  • Cryogenic

• Therapeutic Area Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Oncology

  • Cardiovascular Diseases

  • Infectious Diseases

  • Neurology

  • Diabetes

  • Nephrology

  • Rheumatology

  • Allergy/Asthma

  • Gastroenterology

  • Ophthalmology

  • Others

• Manufacturer Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Large

  • Medium

  • Small

• Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Storage and Shipping

  • Order-to-cash

  • Title Model

  • DSCSA and Serialization Services

  • Pharmaceutical Sampling

  • Others