System Alliance Europe on a Growth Path: Shipment Volumes and Tonnage Increase by More Than 10 Per cent Best Year in the History of the Groupage Cooperation

At a glance

System Alliance Europe (SAE), a groupage cooperation network, reported a record year in 2025 with shipment volumes increasing by over 10% to 3.5 million shipments and tonnage reaching 1.1 million tons. This growth is largely driven by international European markets, particularly in Denmark, Portugal, and Spain, while Germany's logistics sector shows signs of economic weakness. SAE, with 54 member companies across 33 countries, operates under uniform standards and a central IT platform, allowing members like Europa Road to enhance their service offerings across Europe.

The member companies of System Alliance Europe (SAE), including Europa Road, part of Europa Worldwide Group, have transported significantly more shipments in the past financial year than in the previous year. “In terms of shipment volume, 2025 was the best financial year in the history of our alliance since its foundation,” says SAE Chairman of the Board Tassilo Schneider.

With 3.5 million shipments (2024: 3.0 million) and a tonnage of 1.1 million tons (2024: 1.0 million tons), the cooperatively organised groupage network recorded the strongest volume growth of the past five years. “The current momentum is primarily being driven by international European markets,” Schneider comments on the development.

According to Schneider, the economic growth in countries such as Denmark, Portugal, and Spain is reflected in the shipment volumes moving to and from these regions within continental freight traffic. At the same time, the economic weakness of Germany as an industrial location is now also becoming evident in the logistics sector: “We are currently seeing significantly more momentum in other European countries,” says Schneider.

With 54 member companies and 170 branches in 33 countries, SAE is the largest groupage cooperation in Europe. Its members operate according to uniform quality and security standards and manage their logistics through a centralised IT and data platform, while remaining fully independent businesses.

Europa Road boosted its continental credentials by becoming a part of SAE just over two years ago, with membership enabling it to offer customers a seamless and extended service. Europa Road now works closely with other members, all of whom offer equally high standards; these top European partners all meet the same exacting standards and quality levels of customer service.

Jack Baxter, Operations Director at Europa Worldwide Group comments: “The SAE results are echoed by our own growth in consignments between the UK and key European markets despite a changeable market. Since 2020, our road freight division has transported £11.2bn worth of products between the UK and the EU.”

Celebrating its 60th (Diamond) anniversary, this year the proudly independent logistics provider has recently launched a new brand identity and company manifesto: “Powered by Better.” This signals a new era of expansion for the Kent-based firm, which has quadrupled in size over the last 13 years, and has vastly expanded its Air & Sea freight and 3PL Warehousing divisions, despite increasing global economic volatility.

The members of SAE, founded in 2005, include leading medium-sized freight forwarding and logistics companies. Together, they form a closely integrated network of independent, owner-managed companies that combines strong regional presence with comprehensive coverage throughout Europe.