The debt of the TSL industry has increased. “Every 8th company in the industry is threatened with insolvency”
The debt of the transport, forwarding and logistics sector (TSL) was at the end of August this year. PLN 1.64 billion, which means an increase in yards. by PLN 209 million – according to the report of the Polish Road Transport Institute. The number of debtors has also increased, and every eighth company in the industry is threatened with insolvency – added.
As indicated by the Polish Road Transport Institute (PITD), based on data from the National Debt Register, at the end of August 2025, the debt of TSL reached PLN 1.64 billion, which means an increase of PLN 209 million compared to last year and PLN 104 million from the beginning of the year. PLN 1.3 billion, i.e. most of the debt, was recorded in road transport of goods – added.
The report shows that the number of debtors was in August this year. 32.1 thousand And she was 1.2 thousand greater than a year ago. In turn, the average debt increased. from 46.6 thous. PLN to 50.9 thousand zloty. The most arrears were recorded in Mazovia (PLN 333.4 million and 6.3 thousand debtors), Silesia (PLN 215.4 million and 3.9 thousand debtors) and in Greater Poland (PLN 214.6 million and 3.5 thousand debtors). Opolskie (PLN 28 million), Świętokrzyskie (PLN 28.7 million) and Warmian-Masurian (PLN 33.8 million) were the least indebted.
As indicated by the Institute based on the CSO data, in the first half of 2025 by car transport was transported by 13.4 percent. less loads than a year ago; And the largest decrease was recorded in June – by 15.5 percent. Transport work also decreased, which means that the declines concern not only the number of tons transported, but also the distance at which the loads are transported – the experts pointed out. They noted that CSO statistics do not include the smallest entities employing below nine people. “This is important, because in this group – in micro -enterprises dominating road transport – the financial situation is usually the worst” – it was indicated.
According to PITD data, revenues of the entire TSL sector in the first quarter of this year. They increased by 4.9 percent, but in land transport the revenues dropped by about 2 percent, and “profitability has significantly deteriorated”*. “In practice, this means that official statistics may not reflect the scale of problems of the smallest companies,” the Institute emphasized.
As indicated in the report based on KRD data – only 65.8 percent. transport companies have high credibility; 21.5 percent – mean; and 12.7 percent – low. This means that every eighth company in the industry is in the high risk zone of insolvency – it was emphasized.
54. percent Carriers indicated that payment grinders are the most burdensome barrier in running a business – PITD pointed out. “Customers often force 60- or even 90-day payment dates, and yet carriers every day incur high operating costs: purchase of fuel, leasing, drivers' salaries or road fees. The most person with one-man companies in which the owner is the driver and pays the salary the most. service ” – noted Jakub Kostecki, president of the debt collection company Kaczmarski Inkasso, cited in the report.
According to the data of the Central Economic Information Center, 207 bankruptcy of companies was announced in the first half of 2025, and the transport and warehouse management took fourth place in this list. Until July this year, 2610 restructuring was also recorded, of which 358 in the TSL industry, which also places it in fourth position – it was reported.
In August this year The GUS general climate indicator for transport and warehouse management was -0.4, while in July 1.1 points were recorded. In turn, the monthly economic index developed by the Polish Economic Institute for TSL fell to 89.7 points from 100.8 points in July. On the one hand, the main reason for lowering this value was a decrease in the percentage of companies declaring the possession of funds that allow them to function over 3 months, on the other, the increase in the share of companies declaring a decrease in sales value and the number of orders – the Institute pointed out.
He emphasized that although there are signs of recovery, financial data and insolvency statistics show that “the sector was in one of the most difficult periods of recent years.” The last months of the year will be an immunity test for the industry – it was pointed out. According to PITD, companies that can effectively manage liquidity, diversify activities and invest in process digitization will gain advantage in a longer perspective; And those that will remain with the traditional model may have more and more difficulty with living on the market. (PAP)
mbl/ dki/
