Global Markets

Definitions

Warehouse types & supply-chain levels

Terminology used throughout the report.

Warehouse types

Warehousing facilities in Kuwait are categorized based on the temperature requirements of stored goods. According to Global Markets, there are three main types:

without ac

Without AC (ambient)

Ambient warehouses operating at natural temperatures (30–40 °C), suitable for non-perishables.

ac

Air-conditioned

Controlled climate between 18–24 °C for items like packaged foods and electronics.

frozen

Frozen storage

Kept at −18 °C for highly perishable goods such as meat, seafood, and pharmaceuticals.

Source: Warehousing Industry Report — 17.9.2025 · table 0

Supply-chain levels (1PL – 5PL)

In the logistics and supply-chain sector, service providers are classified into five distinct levels, each reflecting a different degree of integration and responsibility within the transportation and storage stack.

  1. 1PL

    First-Party Logistics

    The company that produces the goods handles its own transport and storage end-to-end.

  2. 2PL

    Second-Party Logistics

    Asset-based carriers (shipping lines, airlines, trucking fleets, warehouse owners) provide transport or storage as a contracted service.

  3. 3PL

    Third-Party Logistics

    Integrated operators manage warehousing, inventory, order fulfilment, and distribution on behalf of the client.

  4. 4PL

    Fourth-Party Logistics

    Lead logistics integrators coordinate multiple 3PLs and design the supply-chain network — asset-light orchestration.

  5. 5PL

    Fifth-Party Logistics

    Platform operators leverage data, e-commerce integration, and AI to orchestrate end-to-end supply chains for multiple clients.

Source: Warehousing Industry Report — 17.9.2025 · Definitions → Supply-chain levels (figure attribution: Amazon)