Water Transport Market Report 2026

The water transport market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $600.28 billion in 2025 to $628.41 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of international maritime trade, growth of bulk commodity transportation, development of port and harbor infrastructure, increasing reliance on inland waterways, rise of containerized shipping.

The water transport market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $775.5 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in green shipping corridors, growing adoption of autonomous vessels, expansion of inland water transport networks, rising demand for low-emission marine propulsion, increased focus on digital navigation and monitoring systems. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of fuel-efficient vessel technologies, rising deployment of digital fleet management systems, growing use of automated port operations, expansion of inland waterway logistics, enhanced focus on emission reduction in shipping.

Growing demand for imports and exports is expected to support the expansion of the water transport market in the coming years. Imports are goods and services purchased by one country from another and brought into the country for domestic consumption or use. Exports are goods and services produced within a country and sold to customers or businesses abroad. Water transport plays a critical role in global trade by moving large quantities of goods efficiently across oceans, offering cost-effective and reliable access to international markets, and facilitating cross-border commerce. For example, in September 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported an increase in both exports and imports. The value of July exports reached $251.7 billion, which was $3.9 billion higher than in June, while July imports totaled $316.7 billion, an increase of $5.2 billion from June. Therefore, the rising demand for imports and exports is contributing to the growth of the water transport market.

Companies in the water transport sector are increasingly introducing refrigerated, or “reefer,” services to strengthen their competitive position. Reefer services involve specialized shipping solutions designed to maintain controlled temperatures for perishable goods throughout transit. For instance, in August 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE), a Japan-based maritime transportation provider, launched FLX, a service connecting the west coast of South America with the east coast of North America (Florida). This offering is aimed at customers needing reliable shipping for refrigerated cargo from South America, linking South Florida with destinations such as Honduras, Colombia, and ports along the west coast of South America. The service represents an important advancement in water transport and is expected to benefit customers seeking efficient and dependable handling of temperature-sensitive goods.

In September 2024, MEDLOG S.A., a Switzerland-based logistics and transportation company, acquired Maritime Group Limited for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition expanded MEDLOG’s logistics network in the United Kingdom and strengthened MSC’s overland and intermodal capabilities in this key regional market, enhancing its integrated supply chain presence. Maritime Group Limited is a U.K.-based logistics and freight services provider specializing in road and rail freight, container handling and storage, domestic distribution, freight management, and related logistics services across multiple facilities.

Major companies operating in the water transport market are A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, CMA CGM S.A., COSCO Shipping Lines Co.Ltd., China Ocean Shipping Company Limited, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd., Mediterranean Shipping Company, Evergreen Marine Corp., NYK Line, Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., Rickmers-Line, Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd., Hamburg Süd Group, Wan Hai Lines Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., Wallenius Wilhelmsen, Grimaldi Group, American President Lines LLC, Orient Overseas Container Line, Matson Inc., Crowley Maritime Corporation, Höegh Autoliners AS, Atlantic Container Line, Pacific International Lines (PTE) Limited.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the water transport market in 2025. Western Europe was the second largest region in the global water transport market. The regions covered in the water transport market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the water transport market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The water transport market includes the revenue generated by entities that transport goods and people from one location to another using marine for long distance travel. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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