Inventory held by 3PL providers often needs to be inventoried, valued and sold quickly when a customer becomes insolvent or leaves unpaid logistics costs.
Inventory is often the largest asset
Sweden continues to be marked by elevated bankruptcy levels in 2026. For bankruptcy estates, lenders and 3PL operators, this means growing volumes of inventory, fixtures and surplus goods need to be handled quickly and professionally. At the same time, many logistics agreements include clauses that allow the warehouse operator to sell inventory to cover unpaid claims.
When a company becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, inventory is often one of the most valuable assets left in the business.
This is especially true in:
- E-commerce
- Retail
- Fashion and apparel
- Electronics
- Import and distribution businesses
For the bankruptcy trustee, the task is to secure the assets quickly and convert them into liquid funds to maximise value for creditors.
But in today's logistics landscape, the stock is often not held by the company itself.
More and more stock is held by external 3PL providers
Many companies now outsource warehousing, order handling and distribution to external third-party logistics providers (3PL).
When a customer runs into financial trouble, large quantities of goods are often stored with an external party that at the same time has unpaid invoices for warehousing, pick and pack, transport, returns handling and other logistics services.
In many warehouse and logistics agreements, the operator has the right to retain goods when the customer does not pay its invoices. It is also common for contracts to include clauses that allow the warehouse operator to sell the goods to cover outstanding claims after the customer or the bankruptcy estate has had the opportunity to act.
After warehousing, handling and other agreed charges have been settled, any surplus is normally reported back to the customer or the bankruptcy estate.
For the 3PL provider, this often means inventory needs to be counted, valued, marketed and sold in a commercial manner.
Time affects value
Once a company stops operating, inventory value usually begins to fall.
The most exposed are:
- Seasonal products
- Fashion items
- Consumer electronics
- Campaign products
- Products with a short life cycle
Every month the products sit unsold, sale value risks falling while warehousing costs keep rising.
At the same time, the market for surplus stock, excess lots and bankruptcy inventory continues to grow in Sweden and internationally.
Products that can no longer be sold through regular channels often find new buyers through bulk sales, auctions, outlet channels, export markets, wholesalers and retailers.
Gustatempe works with warehouse operators, bankruptcy trustees, banks, finance companies and businesses that need to liquidate inventory quickly and efficiently.
“We are seeing more and more inventory surpluses come from companies using external warehousing solutions. For the 3PL operator, it is often about quickly turning the goods into market value while at the same time following the contractual terms between the parties. With the right buyer network, it is often possible to achieve significantly better outcomes than many expect. This is especially true today, when many inventories contain fully saleable products that simply need a new market,” says Jimmy Ingvarsson at Gustatempe.
Through our network of buyers in retail, export, outlet and wholesale, we help companies free up warehouse space, recover capital and find new markets for products that would otherwise become a cost.
As bankruptcies, restructurings and inventory optimisation continue to shape the market in 2026, the need for effective solutions to handle surplus stock is growing.
For 3PL companies, bankruptcy estates and businesses with payment problems, it is not just about freeing warehouse space - it is about ensuring the assets achieve the best possible market value. With the right strategy, inventory that seems like a problem can instead become a business opportunity.
