UK: TOP 10 Transport Companies with Highest Sales

According to our database (as of February 2023), a total of more than 7.4M businesses operate in the UK. Only 3.1% of them (more than 233 thousand) operate in Transportation. These companies have a share of 4.5% of all sales generated by UK-based businesses and employ 4.5% of all employees in the UK. All data used below is available in individual companies’ annual reports.

Our analysis is based on data available through HitHorizons Financial Reports, which aggregate companies’ reported financials, credit checks, organizational structure, contact details, and more.

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited had the highest sales in 2021

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited was first with sales of GBP 9.6B in 2021 (up from GBP 8B in 2020). The company is responsible for maintaining and upgrading the rail network in the UK.

Royal Mail Group Limited was second with GBP 8.7B (up from GBP 7.7B in 2020). It is the largest postal service provider in the UK.

Martin-Brower UK Ltd was third with sales of GBP 5.3B (up from GBP 4.4B in 2020). The company is a food service distributor with a strong presence in the UK market.

The United Kingdom: Sales of TOP 10 transportation companies in 2021

Source: HitHorizons.com, data accessed in May 2023

FirstGroup plc was fourth with reported sales of GBP 4.6B in 2021 (a slight increase compared to previous year's GBP 4.3B). It is a leading public transportation company offering bus and rail services in the UK.

The Go-Ahead Group Limited was fifth with sales of GBP 4B (up from GBP 3.9B in 2020). The company is a leading provider of public transportation (bus and rail) services in the UK.

British Airways plc was sixth with reported sales of GPB 3.7B in 2021 (a slight decrease compared to GBP 4B the year before). It is one of the largest airlines in the UK with a strong presence on both domestic and international markets.

DHL Supply Chain Limited was seventh with sales of GBP 2.8B (up from GBP 2.6B in 2020). It is the leading logistics and transportation company in the UK.

EasyJet Airline Company Limited was eighth with GBP 2.3B in sales in 2021 (a significant decrease from the previous year's GBP 4B). The company is a low-cost airline that operates domestically and internationally.

National Express Group plc was ninth with reported sales of GBP 2.2B (up from GBP 2B in 2020). It is a leading provider of coach and bus services in the UK.

Transport Trading Limited was tenth with sales of GBP 1.8B (down from GBP 5.2B in 2020). The company focuses on transportation and logistics and operates in the UK.

UK: Sales of TOP 10 transport companies between 2018 and 2021

Company Financial Statements 2018 2019 2020 2021
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited Consolidated £ 6,587,000,000 £ 6,676,000,000 £ 8,099,000,000 £ 9,618,000,000
Royal Mail Group Limited Unconsolidated £ 7,608,000,000 £ 7,748,000,000 £ 7,734,000,000 £ 8,658,000,000
Martin-Brower UK Ltd Consolidated £ 4,906,362,000 £ 5,233,352,000 £ 4,430,333,000 £ 5,267,250,000
FirstGroup plc Consolidated £ 7,126,900,000 £ 4,642,800,000 £ 4,318,800,000 £ 4,591,100,000
The Go-Ahead Group Limited Consolidated £ 3,461,500,000 £ 3,674,200,000 £ 3,897,200,000 £ 4,058,500,000
British Airways plc Consolidated £ 12,965,000,000 £ 13,290,000,000 £ 4,001,000,000 £ 3,693,000,000
DHL Supply Chain Limited Unconsolidated £ 3,271,825,000 £ 3,034,233,000 £ 2,559,748,000 £ 2,756,977,000
EasyJet Airline Company Limited Unconsolidated £ 6,234,000,000 £ 7,325,000,000 £ 4,068,000,000 £ 2,344,000,000
National Express Group plc Consolidated £ 2,450,700,000 £ 2,744,400,000 £ 1,955,900,000 £ 2,170,300,000
Transport Trading Limited Consolidated £ 5,001,300,000 £ 5,284,200,000 £ 5,171,100,000 £ 1,836,100,000
Source: HitHorizons.com, data accessed in May 2023

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited had the highest profit both before and after tax in 2021

The only company with a pre-tax profit of more than GBP 1B was Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with GBP 1.6B in 2021. The year before, the company made a profit of just GBP 368M. Royal Mail Group Limited was second with GBP 320M, followed by DHL Supply Chain Limited (GBP 33.9M) and Martin-Brower UK Ltd (GBP 11.9M). All other companies reported a loss: The Go-Ahead Group Limited (GBP -6.9M), FirstGroup plc (GBP -17.7M), National Express Group plc (GBP -84.9M), Transport Trading Limited (GBP -323.3M), EasyJet Airline Company Limited (GBP -1B), British Airways plc (GBP -2.1B).

UK: Profit before tax of TOP 10 transport companies between 2018 and 2021

Company 2018 2019 2020 2021
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited £ 219,000,000 £ -181,000,000 £ 368,000,000 £ 1,605,000,000
Royal Mail Group Limited £ 6,000,000 £ 186,000,000 £ -11,000,000 £ 320,000,000
DHL Supply Chain Limited £ 3,865,000 £ 135,494,000 £ -7,337,000 £ 33,925,000
Martin-Brower UK Ltd £ 26,309,000 £ 25,401,000 £ 11,302,000 £ 11,870,000
The Go-Ahead Group Limited £ 145,700,000 £ 97,000,000 £ -39,500,000 £ -6,900,000
FirstGroup plc £ -97,900,000 £ -338,200,000 £ 29,100,000 £ -17,700,000
National Express Group plc £ 177,700,000 £ 187,000,000 £ -444,700,000 £ -84,900,000
Transport Trading Limited £ 38,600,000 £ 463,100,000 £ -211,800,000 £ -323,300,000
EasyJet Airline Company Limited £ 392,000,000 £ 333,000,000 £ -1,262,000,000 £ -1,038,000,000
British Airways plc £ 2,456,000,000 £ 1,459,000,000 £ -4,199,000,000 £ -2,104,000,000
Source: HitHorizons.com, data accessed in May 2023

The highest profit after tax was reported by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited with more than GBP 1.3B in 2021. Royal Mail Group Limited was second with GBP 285M. DHL Supply Chain Limited was third with GBP 33.8M, followed by Martin-Brower UK Ltd with GBP 6M. All other companies reported a loss: FirstGroup plc (GBP -5.8M), The Go-Ahead Group Limited (GBP -40.7M), National Express Group plc (GBP -77.9M), Transport Trading Limited (GBP -312.8M), EasyJet Airline Company Limited (GBP -886M), British Airways plc (GBP -1.6B).

UK: Earnings after tax of TOP 10 transport companies between 2018 and 2021

Company 2018 2019 2020 2021
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited £ 249,000,000 £ -233,000,000 £ -52,000,000 £ 1,350,000,000
Royal Mail Group Limited £ 105,000,000 £ 162,000,000 £ 29,000,000 £ 285,000,000
DHL Supply Chain Limited £ 3,776,000 £ 135,477,000 £ -7,431,000 £ 33,845,000
Martin- Brower UK Ltd £ 15,467,000 £ 16,698,000 £ 5,695,000 £ 6,098,000
FirstGroup plc £ -108,000,000 £ -334,600,000 £ 22,800,000 £ -5,800,000
The Go-Ahead Group Limited £ 109,300,000 £ 75,100,000 £ -50,900,000 £ -40,700,000
National Express Group plc £ 138,700,000 £ 148,300,000 £ -326,700,000 £ -77,900,000
Transport Trading Limited £ 42,100,000 £ 465,100,000 £ -318,600,000 £ -312,800,000
EasyJet Airline Company Limited £ 315,000,000 £ 265,000,000 £ -1,080,000,000 £ -886,000,000
British Airways plc £ 2,091,000,000 £ 1,109,000,000 £ -3,500,000,000 £ -1,648,000,000
Source: HitHorizons.com, data accessed in May 2023

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