Since the 1950s, with the increasingly frequent economic and trade exchanges among countries in the world, the increase of transnational economic activities, and the acceleration of the process of world economic integration, the international freight forwarding industry has developed rapidly around the world, and the international freight forwarding team has grown continuously, becoming an important force to promote the development of international economy and trade, prosper the transportation economy, and meet the service needs of cargo transportation stakeholders. After decades of development, there are more than 40,000 international freight forwarding companies worldwide, with 8,000-10,000 employees. Every major western European country with relatively developed economy has 300-500 international freight forwarding companies. Among them, there are more than 4,500 in the Federal Republic of Germany and more than 2,000 in France. In the United States, in the 1990s alone, there were more than 6,000 freight forwarding companies in the United States. In Asia, there are more than 400 international freight forwarding companies in Japan, more than 300 in Singapore and more than 200 in South Korea and India. There are more than 1000 international freight forwarding companies in Hongkong, and nearly 260 in Taiwan Province Province. At present, about 80% of the world's air freight, more than 70% of container freight and 75% of groceries are controlled by international freight forwarding companies.

The development of freight forwarding industry is unbalanced. Generally speaking, the international freight forwarding industry in developed countries has a relatively high level of development and a relatively complete system. Most international freight forwarding companies have large scale, sound network, high personnel quality and developed business, which controls the international freight forwarding service market in the world. The development of international freight forwarding industry in developing countries is relatively slow and the system is not complete enough. Most international freight forwarding companies are small in scale, with few service outlets and lack of training. They are mainly engaged in domestic business and have poor market competitiveness.

The Present Situation of China International Freight Forwarding Industry

The freight forwarding industry started late and has a short history, but it has developed very rapidly due to the state's attention, policy encouragement and standardized development. By the end of February 2002, there were 3,775 international freight forwarding enterprises (including branches) in China, with nearly 300,000 employees. Among them, state-owned international freight forwarders account for nearly 70%, and foreign international freight forwarders account for nearly 30%. International freight forwarding accounts for 70% in coastal areas and 30% in inland areas. There are 36 1 enterprises engaged in international air freight forwarding business, accounting for about 9.6%. These enterprises are located in all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, and distributed in more than 30 departments and fields. The coexistence of state-owned, collective, foreign capital, joint-stock system and other economic components has become an important force in China's foreign trade and transportation, and has made indelible contributions to the development of China's foreign trade and international transportation, as well as the development of the entire national economy. At present, 80% of China's import and export cargo transportation and transshipment business (of which bulk cargo accounts for 70% and container cargo accounts for 90%), and 90% of international air cargo transportation business is completed through international freight forwarding enterprises.