Mainfreight has reported a lower full-year net profit, highlighting how freight and logistics companies are still working through uneven demand and higher operating costs.

The company's full-year net profit was down 8.5 percent on the previous year, although it pointed to improvement in the second half of the financial year.

Global freight, fuel and customer demand conditions remain important pressures for the sector. Because freight sits behind almost every retail shelf and construction site, the result matters beyond one company's balance sheet.

Mainfreight's leadership has signalled cautious optimism on volumes while keeping a tight focus on cost discipline.

The key question is whether sector demand stabilises into the new financial year.