Freezing Fishing Vessels Market Report 2026

The freezing fishing vessels market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.74 billion in 2025 to $1.83 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in industrial fishing activities, expansion of global seafood trade, need for extended fish preservation at sea, rise in commercial trawling fleets, improvements in marine refrigeration systems.

The freezing fishing vessels market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.29 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for frozen seafood products, stricter food safety and quality regulations, expansion of offshore fishing zones, technological advancements in freezing efficiency, rising investments in modern fishing vessels. Major trends in the forecast period include adoption of onboard rapid freezing technologies, integration of energy efficient refrigeration systems, increase in long duration deep sea fishing operations, growing demand for high quality frozen seafood exports, modernization of commercial fishing fleets with freezing capabilities.

The rise in the popularity of seafood is expected to drive the growth of the freezing fishing vessels market in the coming years. Seafood includes all forms of sea life considered edible by humans and encompasses a wide range of marine organisms consumed globally. The growing popularity of seafood is driven by factors such as population and income growth, a shift toward seafood consumption, and the expansion of aquaculture. Freezing fishing vessels play a crucial role in the seafood supply chain by preserving freshness and quality, preventing spoilage, and maintaining taste and texture. For example, in July 2023, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation, a France-based government agency, projected that global apparent food fish consumption would reach 21.2 kg per capita by 2032, up from 20.4 kg. Therefore, the increasing popularity of seafood is boosting the freezing fishing vessels market.

Key players in the freezing fishing vessels market are focusing on innovative products such as freezer stern factory trawlers to enhance deep-sea fishing capabilities, improve onboard processing efficiency, and meet growing demand for high-quality frozen seafood. A freezer stern factory trawler is a specialized vessel combining freezing and factory processing functions, designed to efficiently catch, process, and preserve fish at sea. For instance, in January 2023, Tersan Shipyard, a Turkey-based company, launched Jan Maria, a freezer stern factory trawler equipped with fully integrated onboard systems for grading, filleting, processing, and freezing. It features a shrimp factory, an advanced fillet factory, and a fishmeal and fish oil plant. The vessel measures 88.1 meters in length, 18.3 meters in width, with a gross tonnage of 5,997, is powered by a 7,000 kW Wärtsilä propulsion system, and can accommodate a crew of up to 43 individuals.

In January 2025, AISA Group, a Canada-based seafood company, acquired La Pesquera Cabo Vírgenes S.A., an Argentina-based seafood company, for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, AISA Group aims to expand seafood production capacity and strengthen its South American supply chain by integrating La Pesquera Cabo Vírgenes’ assets and operations. La Pesquera Cabo Vírgenes S.A. specializes in fishing, processing, and supplying a variety of sustainable seafood products.

Major companies operating in the freezing fishing vessels market report include Rolls-Royce PLC, Wärtsilä Oyj Abp, Green Yard Kleven AS, Ulstein Group ASA, Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, The Damen Group, Lerøy Havfisk AS, Sanford Limited, Talley's Limited, Heinen & Hopman Engineering BV, Master Boat Builders Inc., Elliott Bay Design Group, Karstensens Skibsvaerft A/S, Teknotherm Inc., Aresa Shipyard Inc., MMC FIRST PROCESS AS, Astilleros Armon S.A., Nordic Wildfish AS, Integrated Marine Systems Inc., Marefsol B.V.

North America was the largest region in the freezing fishing vessels market in 2025. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the freezing fishing vessels market report include Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the freezing fishing vessels market report include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The freezing fishing vessels market consists of sales of freezer trawlers, freezer longliners, freezer seiners, factory trawlers, freezer pot vessels, freezer trollers and freezer gillnetters. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

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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