Swiss logistics giant Kuehne+Nagel recorded a sharp increase in air logistics revenue and profitability in the third quarter of 2026, supported by strong freight volumes and rising demand from technology-sector customers.
The company’s Air Logistics division reported a 38% year-on-year increase in net turnover to CHF 2.4 billion, while earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) surged 84% to CHF 169 million.
Air freight volumes reached approximately 619,000 tonnes during the quarter, representing growth of around 9.8% compared with the same period last year. Volume growth accelerated from 3% in the second quarter to 10% in the third quarter, significantly outperforming overall market growth.
Demand for logistics services supporting cloud infrastructure and semiconductor customers was a key driver of the performance. Shipments of high-technology equipment, particularly those linked to data centres and digital infrastructure, helped boost air cargo demand.
Kuehne+Nagel also continued to strengthen its pharmaceutical logistics capabilities by expanding temperature-controlled transport solutions. In September, the company opened a new healthcare logistics centre at Frankfurt Airport to support specialised cargo handling.
The strong air logistics performance contributed to improved results across the wider group. Kuehne+Nagel reported a 22% increase in third-quarter net turnover to CHF 7.4 billion, while group EBIT rose 53% to CHF 435 million.
Following its strong performance during the first nine months of 2026, the company raised its full-year recurring EBIT forecast to between CHF 1.5 billion and CHF 1.6 billion, marking its third outlook increase this year.
The results underline the growing importance of technology-related shipments in the global air freight market, as logistics providers benefit from demand for semiconductor components, cloud infrastructure equipment and other high-value goods.