Cargo Shipping Market By Cargo Type (Dry Cargo, Liquid Cargo, Roll-Off Cargo, Refrigerated Cargo, Project Cargo & Heavy Lift), By Application (Import Shipping, Export Shipping, Domestic Cargo Shipping, Cross-border Shipping), By Vessel Type (Container Ships, Bulk Carriers, Tankers, General Cargo Ships, Offshore Supply Vessels, Refrigerated Ships), By Service Type (Full Container Load, Less than Container Load, Port-to-Port Shipping, Door-to-Door Shipping, Freight Forwarding, Customs Brokerage, Warehousing & Distribution), By Transportation Mode (Ocean Shipping, Inland Waterways, Coastal Shipping), and By End User (Oil & Gas, Manufacturing & Industrial Goods, Food & Beverages, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Automotive, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

---

What trends will shape Cargo Shipping Market in the coming years?

The Cargo Shipping Market accounted for USD 12.65 Billion in 2024 and USD 13.28 Billion in 2025 is expected to reach USD 21.52 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 4.95% between 2025 and 2035. The shipping cargo market can also be defined as an international business that is engaged in shipping goods and commodities through air, rail, and road transport as well as the sea. It is instrumental in the process of international trade, and it facilitates the translocation of raw materials, finished products, and consumer products across countries and continents. There are different cargoes in the market, and they have containerized cargo, dry bulk (examples include coal and grain), liquid bulk (examples include oil), and general cargo. The major actors are shipping, freight forwarder companies, port operators, and logistics. The factors of global trade, prices of fuel, regulations, and geopolitical events affect market dynamics.

What do industry experts say about the Cargo Shipping market trends?

“I advocate for sustainable shipping. Through EU-backed initiatives like CIRPASS and BALTIC-FIT, maritime transport must evolve—toward digital replication and decarbonization—to meet global climate targets and ensure resilient supply chains.”

• Wolfgang Lehmacher, International Supply Chain and Logistics Expert, former Head of Supply Chain & Transport Industries at the World Economic Forum

“My mission with Together in Safety is to unite shipping bodies and operators globally to slash maritime fatalities—and that safety culture must extend to environmentally responsible and resilient cargo shipping.”

• Grahaeme Henderson, OBE, FREng, Adjunct Professor, University of Southampton; former Senior VP Shipping & Maritime, Shell; and industry-wide safety advocate

Which segments and geographies does the report analyze?

What are the key drivers and challenges shaping the Cargo Shipping market?

How does globalization increase demand for international cargo transport?

Globalisation has led to a huge rise in the globally transported cargo due to the improvement of trade and supply chains around the world. Since firms are using raw materials and producing products in varying countries, the number of products that require crossing borders increases significantly. The development of the global trade in merchandise witnessed growth of about 3% annually in the past decade, as indicated by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) documented that seaborne trade, which transports about 80% of the world trade by volume, increased to 11 billion tonnes in 2020, compared to 7.4 billion tonnes in 2000. This expansion highlights the importance of the cargo transport market, mainly stimulated by globalisation, which will need effective international logistics systems.

Emergent technologies and trading agreements enable more and quicker global shipping, a fact that justifies the use of strong cargo shipping infrastructure. Therefore, the moniker of 'globalisation' has a direct impact on the expansion of international trade, which further contributes to the inception and complexity of the cargo transportation markets globally.

What role do technological advancements play in efficient cargo handling?

The use of technology is essential in improving the performance of cargo handling operations since it streamlines operations, minimizes errors, and decreases delays. Digital technologies like the IoT sensors and real-time tracking systems allow one to better understand cargo locations and facilitate control in the cargo movement, and to optimise the logistics process and minimise dead time.

Ports that have deployed automation technologies have indicated operational efficiency by up to 30% and a reduction in turnaround times by close to 20%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) notes that digitalisation can cut down overall shipping rates by 10-15% and goes directly to the benefit of cargo handlers. Such developments enhance the productivity in the cargo handling industry and ensure stages of safety standards and environmental effects, which are invaluable contributors in the cargo shipping market.

Why are environmental regulations creating compliance barriers for carriers?

The effect of environmental regulations in the cargo shipping industry has faced substantial setbacks as far as compliance is concerned, mainly because these regulations are very strict to limit the amount of emissions and pollution in the water. An example of measures that have been implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) would include the IMO 2020 sulphur cap regulations, according to which the sulphur concentration in the fuel cannot exceed 0.5%, as opposed to the 3.5% in the previous regulations. This move has compelled the carriers to sink lots of money into low-sulfur fuel or such scrubber systems to clean up a huge expense in operations.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the cost of compliance by shipping operations rose by 20-30% after these regulations. There are also new ballast water management standards that necessitate the installation of costly treatment facilities that can help in curbing the spread of invasive species, yet another compliance cost. The regulatory pressures tend to impede operations and can be very demanding in terms of the amount of capital investment that is required to ensure that the operations are conducted profitably, and carriers, particularly the smaller carriers, find it very difficult to endure, since they must adhere to environmental standards.

Why is infrastructure development key for port modernization worldwide?

The port modernization in terms of infrastructure development is playing a pivotal role across different countries, and especially in the cargo shipping arena, because it will have a direct influence on the competitiveness, capacity, and productivity of the international trade hubs. The facilities, such as modern infrastructure like new and advanced cranes and deeper berths, and advanced logistic facilities with digital systems, make the port capable of accommodating larger ships and larger amounts of goods to be shipped and lead to reduced time and reduced costs in cases of turnarounds.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) confirms that the world container port throughput tended to grow by around 3.4% annually before the pandemic situation, adding to the importance of upgrading infrastructure to be able to support more trade. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reported that modernized ports reduce congestion and supply chain instability, which is essential to keep international cargo flows running smoothly. Investing in flexible and technologically advanced port infrastructures promotes sustainability in the environment since it allows cleaner and efficient operations. Therefore, one of the core factors in maintaining growth and responding to changes in the cargo shipping industry is based on infrastructure developments.

Can emerging markets boost regional demand for bulk transport?

New economies are also instrumental in stimulating demand within the region due to bulk transport, as far as the cargo marine sector is concerned. Following the growth in these economies, they demand a lot of raw materials, such as coal, iron ore, and grains, among others, to facilitate industrialization and infrastructure development. For instance, World Bank representatives indicated that consumer spending on bulk commodities in both Asian and African emerging markets exhibited average annual growth rates of over 5% in the past decade, fueling an increase in volumes in emerging markets.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development also claimed that the export participation of emerging economies has surpassed the world average, which translates to high levels of growth in the regions' shipping market. The result of this can directly be translated into more activity in the bulk transport segment, as the ability to transport more raw materials will be supported in ports and with shipping lines. Cargo shipping markets centered on bulk commodities will be favored by the growth in trade flows both inside and among emerging regions, which will support the continued demand and further investment opportunities.

What are the key market segments in the Cargo Shipping industry?

Based on the Cargo Type, the Cargo Shipping Market has been classified into Dry Cargo, Liquid Cargo, Roll-Off Cargo, Refrigerated Cargo, Project Cargo & Heavy Lift. Dry cargo is the most salient section in the cargo shipping business. Bulk commodities such as grains, coal, or minerals, and manufactured goods comprise a bulk category of trade that is the foundation of world trade since they are in high volume and have equal demand.

The advantages of dry cargo shipping are the presence of a solid infrastructure, well-developed directions, and a wide variety of customers who work in the agricultural complex, mining, and manufacturing industries. It dominates because of the sheer size of global trade in these commodities, and it is the most prominent compared to other specialisations of cargo, such as liquid or refrigerated cargo.

Based on the application, the Cargo Shipping Market has been classified into Import Shipping, Export Shipping, Domestic Cargo Shipping, and Cross-border Shipping. Export shipping is the most dominant segment on the basis of application within the cargo shipping market. The dynamics of export shipping contribute to international trade, and this makes countries sell their products and raw materials to international markets, which contributes to economic growth and industrialisation.

It usually encompasses high values and extensive quantities of cargo with the support of trade agreements and supply chains worldwide. There is a high significance of this segment, as it helps in uniting producers and consumers around the globe, ensuring the survival of international trade and the globalisation of the market.

Which regions are leading the Cargo Shipping market, and why?

The North American cargo shipping market has a vast development of trade agreements, infrastructure, and high-volume acts of imports and exports. The availability of such major seaside ports as Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York, coupled with well-developed logistics, facilitates good placement and distribution of goods. The area is also characterised by healthy industrial production and consumer demand, which gains strength in the constant flow of cargo. There is the aspect of improvements in the use of technology in port operations and fleet management, which enhances efficiency in the operations.

The strategy of trade relationships that are strategic, especially with Asia and Latin America, further promotes the country of the United States as a key hub. Green shipping and digitisation also lead to North America as an early adopter of the new logistics trends. The regulatory capabilities of the region will encourage sustainable growth, driving innovation in cargo handling. All these serve to buttress the advances of North America with regard to dominating the cargo shipping market worldwide.

The Asia Pacific cargo shipping market is expanding because of its geographic location as a strategic point of connection between world trade routes, including the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The massive needs in raw material and finished goods transportation have been catalysed by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, especially in the countries of China, India, Japan, and South Korea. Moreover, high volumes of cargo are effectively supported by the location of some of the busiest ports in the world, including Shanghai, Singapore, and Busan.

Shipping within the region is ever-growing with the expansion of the manufacturing base, along with the increasing number of exports coupled with imports. Port infrastructure, technological innovation in the field of logistics, and government policy to improve the development of trade connectivity enhance the leading position of the region in cargo transportation even more. With increasing intra-regional trade and the emergence of e-commerce, cargo flow is enhanced, and the Asia-Pacific is an important node in the international shipping chain.

What does the competitive landscape of the Cargo Shipping market look like?

The cargo shipping market is rather competitive because it is managed by several global giants such as A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM Group, and China COSCO Shipping Corporation. The vital players are constantly investing in the fleet, digitalisation, and sustainability projects to increase operational efficiency and minimise measures to harm the environment. For instance, Maersk has lined up the pace of its move towards ensuring carbon-neutral ships, as Cosco has concentrated on developing its Asia-Europe delivery to capture the increase in trade.

The Ocean Network Express, on the other hand, has boosted its market share due to the trade alliances and enhanced logistical services. Companies like Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen Marine are also venturing into the use of advanced solutions to supply chains and investing in more environmentally friendly fuel sources. The vibrant environment of international trade, the changing prices of fuels, and the increasingly stringent environmental policies have become an ongoing process of evolution and rivalry in the field of cargo shipping.

Cargo Shipping Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

To explore in-depth analysis in this report - Request Sample Report

Which recent mergers, acquisitions, or product launches are shaping the Cargo Shipping industry?

• In June 2025, Ocean Network Express (ONE) named its sixth ammonia/methanol-ready container vessel, the ONE Singapore, during a ceremony held at Imabari Shipbuilding in Hiroshima.
• In May 2025, Swire Shipping launched its “Voyage to Zero” carbon insetting programme, which allowed freight customers to proactively offset and reduce their Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Report Coverage:

By Cargo Type

• Dry Cargo
• Liquid Cargo
• Roll-Off Cargo
• Refrigerated Cargo
• Project Cargo & Heavy Lift

By Application

• Import Shipping
• Export Shipping
• Domestic Cargo Shipping
• Cross-border Shipping

By Vessel Type

• Container Ships
• Bulk Carriers
• Tankers
• General Cargo Ships
• Offshore Supply Vessels
• Refrigerated Ships

By Service Type

• Full Container Load (FCL)
• Less than Container Load (LCL)
• Port-to-Port Shipping
• Door-to-Door Shipping
• Freight Forwarding
• Customs Brokerage
• Warehousing & Distribution

By Transportation Mode

• Ocean Shipping
• Inland Waterways
• Coastal Shipping

By End User

• Oil & Gas
• Manufacturing & Industrial Goods
• Food & Beverages
• Chemicals & Petrochemicals
• Automotive
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• A.P. Moller-Maersk Group
• Mediterranean Shipping Company
• CMA CGM Group
• China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited
• Hapag-Lloyd
• Evergreen Marine Corporation
• Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
• Ocean Network Express
• Hyundai Merchant Marine
• ZIM Integrated Shipping Services
• Pacific International Lines
• Wan Hai Lines
• Grimaldi Group
• Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
• Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)