| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 658.46 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 836.38 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 4.90 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Cargo Shipping Market Analysis
The Cargo Shipping Market size is estimated at USD 658.46 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 836.38 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The rising demand for cargo vessels such as container ships, bulk carriers, and others due to the growth in sea freight activity is driving the cargo shipping market.
Factors such as the increasing demand for cargo transportation through ships and the surge in trade-related agreements supplement the growth of the cargo shipping market. Fluctuations in transportation and inventory costs hamper the growth of the cargo shipping market. However, factors such as the anticipated trend of automation in marine transportation and an increase in marine safety norms are expected to provide opportunities for the growth of the cargo shipping market during the forecast period.
- In 2022, the freight volume transported domestically via coastwise vessels in Japan stood at 320.93 million metric ton, compared to 324.66 million metric ton in 2021.
- According to the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, the total volume of cargo handled at seaports across India touched 1,323 million metric ton in FY 2022, witnessing a Y-o-Y increase of 6.0% compared to FY 2021.
Cargo Shipping Market Trends
Increasing Cross-border Trading to Support Market Expansion
The increasing cross-border trading activity via sea, rising sea freight volumes due to the growth of the e-commerce industry, and the implementation of various free-trade agreements across nations are contributing to expanding sea trade activity, which, in turn, is positively contributing to the growth of the cargo shipping market.
- The number of general cargo ships in the global merchant fleet stood at 17,784 units as of 2022, while the number of bulk cargo carriers reached 12,941 units.
The capacity of the global merchant fleet has increased steadily in recent decades, attributed to the rising demand for more seaborne trade, which calls for larger vessels to transport more volume in one trip.
- In 2022, the capacity of container ships touched 293 million dwt, registering a CAGR of 3.1% between 2018 and 2022.
With the rising seaborne trade activity, there exists a greater demand for these cargo carriers as these ships transport various goods, thereby positively impacting the surging growth of the market.
Leading ocean freight forwarders across the world are witnessing a rapid surge in the volume of freight they are transporting in recent years, owing to the growth in cross-border e-commerce activity. Since sea freight remains the dominant transportation medium to ship goods across long distances, the demand for cargo carriers shoots up extensively.
- In 2022, the United States was the leading market among Indian consumers who shop online, capturing 21% of the cross-border e-commerce market out of the overall cross-border e-commerce share, followed by Australia.
Thus, the rapid advancement in e-commerce, coupled with rising sea freight activity, may contribute to the surging growth of the cargo shipping market in the coming years.
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Europe Holds a Significant Share in the Market
With the increasing seaborne trade and economic growth, the demand for cargo shipping is anticipated to witness evident growth in the European market.
The marine sector is one of the most important sectors of the German economy. The annual turnover is up to EUR 50 billion (USD 53.22 billion), and the number of jobs directly or indirectly dependent on the maritime industry was up to 400,000 in 2022.
In Germany, more than 360 shipping companies operate around 2,700 seagoing vessels. According to owner nationality, Germany is the largest shipping nation after Greece, Japan, and China (ranked 4th) with its merchant fleet.
- Germany holds around 29% of all container-carrying capacities worldwide in container shipping and is still positioned as an international leader according to owner nationality.
About nine shipyards support the German naval shipbuilding industry, and about 2,800 companies are active in the shipbuilding and ocean industries. The companies generate a domestic value added of approximately 85% on deliveries from German shipyards.
Likewise, almost 95% of all UK imports and exports move by sea through over 400 British ports.
- In 2022, Spain was the world's fourth largest importer of fish and seafood after the United States, China, and Japan.
- In 2022, Spain’s seafood imports from all origins were USD 9.6 billion, up 7.6% from 2021. Total Spanish exports in 2022 reached USD 5.9 billion, up 3.4% compared to the previous year.
Spain is vital to the shipping and logistics in Europe. Spain’s shipping industry is supported by its network of maintained infrastructure across all sectors (road, rail, and air), allowing it to boast efficient and capable supply routes through Europe and beyond. Over a hundred different shipping companies in Spain make up its massive fleet. Spain is covered by water on three sides, making it ideal for establishing ports and other shipping hubs. Well-connected facilities are linked to several international airports in the region.
Owing to the abovementioned factors, the European segment of the market is expected to grow during the forecast period.
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Cargo Shipping Industry Overview
The cargo shipping market is fragmented in nature, with the presence of many international companies in the market. The top players in the segment include Maersk, MSC, CMA, COSCO, and Hapag Lloyd. High barriers to entry restrain the market due to the high cost of vehicles and increasing economies of scale, which affect competition in the industry. However, key players are involved in strategic partnerships and acquisitions to capture market share in the coming years.
- In January 2023, A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) announced the completion of its acquisition of Martin Bencher Group, a Danish project logistics expert with premium capabilities within non-containerized project logistics and global operations. With the addition of Martin Bencher, these companies are strengthening their ability to offer project logistics services to their global clients while providing a more comprehensive offering to a wide array of industries.
Cargo Shipping Market Leaders
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A. P. Moller-Maersk AS
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MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA
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CMA CGM
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China COSCO Holdings Company Limited
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Hapag-Lloyd
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Cargo Shipping Market News
- October 2022: The CMA CGM Group, a leading worldwide shipping group, announced the acquisition of Containerships, a container transportation and logistics company. The European Commission authorized this transaction on October 22. Containerships specializing in the intra-European market, which will complement CMA CGM’s service offering.
- January 2022: Evergreen Marine Corp. acquired the entire stake in a Panama terminal in a bid to strengthen its presence in the Americas and raise its competitive edge.
Cargo Shipping Industry Segmentation
Cargo shipping is the means of transport used to transfer items, goods, and cargo from a port to a destination by ship.
The cargo shipping market is segmented by ship type (bulk carriers, general cargo ships, container ships, tankers, and reefer ships), industry type (food and beverages, manufacturing, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, electrical and electronics, others), cargo type (general container shipping and reefer container shipping), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The report offers market size and forecasts for the cargo shipping market in value (USD) for all the above segments.
| Ship Type | Bulk Carriers | ||
| General Cargo Ships | |||
| Container Ships | |||
| Tankers | |||
| Reefer Ships | |||
| Industry Type | Food and Beverages | ||
| Manufacturing | |||
| Oil and Gas | |||
| Pharmaceutical | |||
| Electrical and Electronics | |||
| Others | |||
| Cargo Type | Liquid Cargo | ||
| Dry Cargo | |||
| General Cargo | |||
| Geography | North America | United States | |
| Canada | |||
| Rest of North America | |||
| Europe | Germany | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| Spain | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Asia-Pacific | India | ||
| China | |||
| Japan | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Rest of the World | South Ameria | ||
| Middle East and Africa | |||
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Cargo Shipping Market Research FAQs
How big is the Cargo Shipping Market?
The Cargo Shipping Market size is expected to reach USD 658.46 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 4.90% to reach USD 836.38 billion by 2030.
What is the current Cargo Shipping Market size?
In 2025, the Cargo Shipping Market size is expected to reach USD 658.46 billion.
Who are the key players in Cargo Shipping Market?
A. P. Moller-Maersk AS, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA, CMA CGM, China COSCO Holdings Company Limited and Hapag-Lloyd are the major companies operating in the Cargo Shipping Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Cargo Shipping Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2025-2030).
Which region has the biggest share in Cargo Shipping Market?
In 2025, the Asia Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Cargo Shipping Market.
What years does this Cargo Shipping Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Cargo Shipping Market size was estimated at USD 626.20 billion. The report covers the Cargo Shipping Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Cargo Shipping Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Cargo Shipping Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Cargo Shipping market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Cargo Shipping analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
