Kuehne+Nagel air logistics EBIT soars 84% in Q3 2026

Kuehne+Nagel reported a strong third quarter in 2026, with air logistics continuing to deliver strong growth throughout 2026, contributing to the group's overall performance.

Air Logistics business recorded a 38% year-on-year increase in net turnover to CHF 2.4 billion in the third quarter of 2026, while EBIT rose 84% to CHF 169 million. The unit reported a conversion rate of 32%, with air freight volumes reaching 1.7 million tonnes by the end of September.

Volume growth accelerated to 10% in Q3, up from 3% in Q2, significantly outpacing overall market growth. Demand for logistics solutions supporting cloud infrastructure and semiconductor customers contributed to the increase.

The company also expanded its pharmaceutical logistics capabilities, strengthening temperature-controlled transport solutions. In September, Kuehne+Nagel opened a new healthcare logistics centre at Frankfurt Airport.

Meanwhile, the road logistics business recorded a 14% year-on-year increase in net turnover to CHF 1 billion in the third quarter of 2026, while EBIT rose 40% to CHF 28 million.

The market recovery observed in previous quarters continued during the period, supported by steady demand for value-added services and cross-border solutions across European groupage operations, North America and Asia Pacific. Customs services also remained a key contributor to the unit’s performance.

The logistics group’s contract Logistics business reported a 9% year-on-year increase in net turnover to CHF 1.3 billion in the third quarter of 2026, while EBIT rose 7% to CHF 66 million.

The unit’s performance was supported by strong results in Europe and the Middle East. Continued business growth and the rollout of new customer projects worldwide required targeted upfront investments and the recruitment of around 4,000 additional employees.

Kuehne+Nagel delivered strong performance in the third quarter of 2026, with net turnover rising 22% year on year to CHF 7.4 billion. EBIT increased 53% to CHF 435 million, while earnings also grew 53% to CHF 316 million.

Stefan Paul, CEO of Kuehne+Nagel International AG, said, “Kuehne+Nagel delivered strong third-quarter 2026 results, reflecting the resilience of our operations and validating our strategy of profitable growth. All business units contributed to this achievement. The announced long-term partnership with Amazon and AWS enables us to capitalize even faster and more effectively on future growth opportunities.”