Maritime Freight Transport Market Report Scope & Overview:

The Maritime Freight Transport Market Size was valued at USD 373.93 Billion in 2023 and expected to reach USD 558.12 Billion by 2032 and grow at a CAGR of 4.62% over the forecast period 2024-2032.

The maritime freight transport industry is responsible for 80 percent of global trade. As export trade via shipborne transportation accelerates, it effectively benefits global consumers with competitive freight rates. This has, in turn, led to the flourish of the shipping industry, which is the most efficient form of transport that exists. Further, with increased economic liberalization, the maritime sector will continue to grow. For example, the U.S. cannot trade with its global partners without ships. Of all the goods traded by the U.S., 69 percent of it is carried via water. This primarily includes seagoing vessels. Furthermore, trucking and rail carry a small percentage of goods, totaling 13.9% and 7.6%, respectively. In terms of value, 41% of trade value is carried by ships.

However, recent changes in global trade have been catastrophic. Various countries have started implementing entry and container banning, hence affecting global trade deficiencies with other countries. An example is the U.S which has started banning containers and vessels from China. A large percentage of goods exported to the U.S. are those from China. These are trying setbacks since international trade incurs losses when trading and importing from other countries. It highlights the interconnection between international trade and global importing and exporting. Over 50,000 merchant ships transport goods across the globe. Most world fleets comprise different types of cargo carriers, and they are spread across 155 nations. The fleets are operated by a team of more than 1 million seafarers of all nationalities. This global network supports world trade virtually. However, in a few instances, such as the global pandemic, it faces challenges. Additionally, many factors affect maritime freight trade:

Product –185 million tons of food was produced at the onset of 2022. An increase in grain prices led to a 1.2 percent increase in consumer food prices.

Ships – In 2021, dry bulk freight rates rose by 2.9 percent, which, consequently, slowed supply chain delivery speeds and increased shortages.

Climate – World GDP increased by 6.3 percent in 2021, and total greenhouse gas emissions from the global fleet increased by 4.7 percent.

Geopolitical Impact

Russia-Ukraine War

In 2022, containerized trade volume shrank at 3.7%. However, in 2023, UNCTAD predicts a 1.2% rebound. From 2024 to 2028, growth will be above 3%. For the latter period, growth is still below the long-term average of 7% over the past 30 years. The war in Ukraine, which started at the beginning of 2022, impacted seaborne trade significantly, particularly dry bulk and tanker shipments. The war also favorably affected trade patterns by increasing the distance for the transport of key export commodities such as oil and grain. As such, ton-miles grew faster than tonnage in 2022. Projections are similar for 2023 and 2024.

As for oil and gas, the annual growth rates were equally strong at 6% and 4.6%, respectively. In 2022, demand for fuel rose as COVD restrictions eased, allowing oil and gas to be delivered to destinations. Oil demand benefited further as countries and regions spent more on energy-intensive areas such as transport and travel. In contrast, the volume of containerized and dry bulk cargo in shipment decreases. This reflected the weak economic growth of the globe, high inflation, and the normalization of demand after the surge caused by the start of the pandemic. In 2023, oil cargo reached long-term highs from the disruptions of the Ukraine war, as the war saw the longest grain shipments as the number of countries seeking alternative exporters such as the U.S. and Brazil. Intra-Asian containerized trade grew marginally, consistent with the rearrangement of manufacturing globally and China’s dominant position.

Inflation

In 2022, global GDP grew by 3.2%, half the rate of the 6.1% seen in 2021. The war in Ukraine, alongside other economic shocks, contributed to a global cost-of-living crisis, worsening poverty, hunger, and debt distress, reversing progress on Sustainable Development Goals ahead of the 2030 deadline.

Global inflation hit a multi-decade high of around 8% in 2022 and early 2023. Inflation rates varied, with developing countries expected to see 7.3% and advanced economies 3.3% in 2023. The Middle East and Africa experienced the highest consumer price increases, particularly in early 2023.

Energy prices, especially for gas and coal, soared to record highs in 2022, driving up import costs and impacting vulnerable households. Food security was also affected, as the FAO food price index rose 21% between January 2020 and May 2023, although prices began to decline in mid-2022, aided by initiatives like the Black Sea Initiative.

To tackle inflation, central banks globally raised interest rates, which increased debt costs for developing nations and limited industrial growth. Global growth projections remain modest for 2023 (3.2%) and 2024 (2.9%), with Asia, especially India and Central Asia, expected to see the highest growth, while inflation remains persistently high into 2024.

Maritime Freight Transport Market Dynamics

KEY DRIVERS:

• Increasing international trade, particularly in emerging markets, drives demand for maritime freight services as shipping remains the most cost-effective method for transporting large volumes of goods.

Increasing international trade, particularly in emerging markets, drives demand for maritime freight services as shipping remains the most cost-effective mode for transporting large volumes of goods. Countries such as China, India, and Brazil have driven global trade, which maritime freight services depend on. In 2022, international seaborne trade volumes reached 11 billion tons with emerging economies accounting for more than 60% of goods shipped . As these countries industrialize and urbanize, their appetite for raw materials and consumer goods increases, meaning that maritime trade will see strong growth from these nations.

• Growing demand for oil, gas, and other natural resources fuels the need for bulk shipping, particularly for transporting energy commodities over long distances.

Growing demand for oil, gas, and other natural resources fuels the need for bulk shipping, particularly for energy commodities. Growth in the U.S. economy as well as in other countries means that energy demand is likely to increase, necessitating freight transport due to its cost-effectiveness. Seaborne oil trade volumes increased by 6% in 2022 while natural gas increased by 4.6% during the same period, signaling increased international demand for these resources. The International Maritime Organization also reports that more than 3 billion tons of crude oil and petroleum products are shipped by sea annually.

Furthermore, geopolitical factors have resulted in countries diversifying their energy sources. For instance, the war in Ukraine forced Europe to move away from Russian sources of gas and oil. Consequently, Europe had to adapt by increasing its dependence on long-distance shipping from places such as the Middle East as well as from the United States . This is significant because the amount of shipping is measured by the ton-mile, which has grown as more shipping is done over longer distances from suppliers. Already, there are plans to increase the volume of shipments in the United States by 25% in the next three years. In addition, the need to diversify has also led to increased maritime trade of other forms of energy, particularly coal and liquefied petroleum gas. The International Gas Union estimates that LPG trade alone clocked 470 million tons in 2022 and is set to increase further in the coming years.

RESTRAIN:

• Stringent environmental regulations and compliance requirements can impose additional costs on shipping companies.

The maritime freight transport market is highly affected by the stringent environmental regulations and compliance requirements. Nowadays, the International Maritime Organization has adopted the ambitious targets of zero emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and zero emission by 2050. It requires huge investments in research and development of new technologies to make shipping eco-friendlier. The costs of complying with emissions requirements include the development of new cleaner technologies, such as fuel-efficient ships and biofuels. The costs of complying with the new emission requirements for existing ships are as high as one million dollars per ship. Moreover, new eco-friendly solutions can cost shipping companies up to 30% higher comparing to traditional ships.

Moreover, the IMO adopted the 2020 sulfur cap. It requires the maximum amount of sulfur in the fuel to be no greater than 0.5 %. However, it also resulted in increased operation costs. Firstly, it resulted in the price growth for fuel used by ships. Secondly, the shipping companies are required to buy scrubbers to reduce the sulfur content in the used fuel. The alternative is switching to low-sulfur fuel, which is also more expensive than the ordinary one. Therefore, the compliance requirements have resulted in a complex n-compliance landscape which changes fast, and thus requires huge investments and fast adaptation. The shipping companies have to find a balance between complying with the new regulations and remain profitable as the compliance costs can significantly limit resources available and affect the competitiveness of shipping companies.

Maritime Freight Transport Market Segmentation Overview

BY CARGO TYPE

Containerized Goods leads the market with market share of 67.19% in 2023 generating the highest revenue due to its efficiency and versatility. Standardized container sizes, such as the twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) and forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU), have revolutionized global shipping, enabling seamless intermodal transport across ships, trucks, and trains. Containerization boosts supply chain efficiency and cost-effectiveness by facilitating the movement of large goods volumes. Ports have become critical logistics hubs, further driving growth in the maritime freight transport market.

Containerized trade has been the fastest-growing segment for years, with an expected growth rate of 1.9% in 2023, according to the "Review of Maritime Transport" report by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development). UNCTAD also notes that international maritime trade is primarily driven by containerized, dry bulk, and gas cargo. The long-term trend of containerizing general cargo remains on the rise, with much of the global containerized trade concentrated on key East-West routes, including Asia-Europe, the Trans-Pacific, and the Transatlantic. Over the forecast period, containerized and dry bulk trades are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% and 3.9%, respectively.

BY VESSEL TYPE

Container ships are the dominant segment in the maritime freight transport market, accounting for a significant portion of global trade. In 2023, containerized trade volumes reached approximately 1.9 billion TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), reflecting the growing reliance on this vessel type for efficient transportation of goods.

LNG and LPG carriers are among the fastest-growing segments due to the increasing demand for cleaner energy sources. The global LNG trade volume surged to around 470 million tons in 2022, driven by a transition towards natural gas as a preferred energy source.

BY INDUSTRY TYPE

The Oil & Ores segment dominates the maritime freight transport market due to its essential role in global energy supply chains. In 2023, the global trade volume for oil reached approximately 3 billion tons, highlighting its significant contribution to

The Food & Beverage segment is witnessing rapid growth, driven by increasing global demand for perishable goods. This sector is expected to continue expanding as trade agreements facilitate international food transport.

Maritime Freight Transport Market Regional Analysis

The Asia-Pacific region is the dominant force in the maritime freight transport market, accounting for a significant share of global shipping activity. Countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are key players, with China alone handling over 30% of the world's container trade in 2022. This dominance is attributed to extensive manufacturing capabilities and efficient port operations, facilitating the swift movement of goods to and from major markets.

The Middle East and Africa are emerging as the fastest-growing regions in maritime freight transport. The demand for shipping services is fueled by increasing oil exports and infrastructure investments in ports and logistics. The volume of oil trade from the Middle East alone reached approximately 1.5 billion tons in 2022, driven by heightened global energy demands and diversification of export markets.

Key Players in Maritime Freight Transport Market

Some of the major players in the Maritime Freight Transport Market are:

• A.P. Moller-Maersk 

• Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) 

• CMA CGM 

• Hapag-Lloyd

• Evergreen Marine Corporation 

• COSCO Shipping Lines

• Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation 

• Hanjin Shipping 

• K Line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha) 

• NYK Line (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha) 

• ZIM Integrated Shipping Services 

• MSC Cruises 

• Royal Caribbean Group 

• Carnival Corporation 

• Teekay Corporation 

• GulfMark Offshore 

• Bourbon 

• Scorpio Tankers 

• Frontline Ltd.

• Seaspan Corporation 

RECENT TRENDS

• In June 2024, India is planning to establish a new shipping company aimed at expanding its fleet by at least 1,000 ships over the next decade. This initiative is part of the country's strategy to capture a larger share of revenue from the growing trade market, according to two government officials.

• December 1, 2023 – CEOs of major global shipping lines have released a joint declaration at COP 28, advocating for a definitive end date for the construction of new fossil fuel-powered vessels. They are urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to establish regulatory frameworks that would expedite the shift to green fuels in the shipping industry.