Water Transport Market Report 2026

Water Transport Market Overview

• Water Transport market size has reached to $600.28 billion in 2025 • Expected to grow to $775.5 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% • Growth Driver: Growing Demand For Imports And Exports Driving Growth Of Water Transport Market • Market Trend: Water Transportation Companies Increasing Focus On Reefer Services • Asia-Pacific was the largest region in 2025 and Western Europe is the fastest growing region.

What Is Covered Under Water Transport Market?

Water transport is a mode of transportation that uses ships, barges, and boats that can float on water surfaces to transport people, goods, and freight. This mode of transportation is less expensive than rail, road, and air transport, is beneficial for the carriage of heavy goods over long distances in foreign trade, and is also used in military operations to defend naval borders. The main types in the water transport market are the deep sea, coastal, and great lakes, and inland water transport. The deep-sea transportation mode transports people and goods via sea waterways. The market is also segmented by application into onshore and offshore.

What Is The Water Transport Market Growth Forecast?

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.

Global Water Transport Market Segmentation

1) By Type: Deep Sea, Coastal, And Great Lakes, Inland Water Transport 2) By Cargo Type: Containerized Cargo, Bulk Cargo, Liquid Cargo, Vehicles And Ro-Ro, Passenger Transport 3) By Application: Onshore, Offshore Subsegments: 1) By Deep Sea: Container Shipping, Bulk Shipping, Oil Tankers, Cargo Ships 2) By Coastal And Great Lakes: Ferry Services, Coastal Shipping, Great Lakes Shipping 3) By Inland Water Transport: Barges, Tugboats, Inland Cargo Vessels

What Is The Driver Of The Water Transport Market?

Growing demand for imports and exports is expected to propel the growth of the water transport market going forward. Imports refer to goods and services that are purchased by one country from another country and brought into the importing country for domestic use or consumption. Exports refer to goods and services produced within one country and sold to customers or businesses in other countries. Water transport plays an important role in global import and export by efficiently moving large volumes of goods across oceans, providing cost-effective and reliable access to international markets, and facilitating international trade. For instance, in September 2023, according to the United States Census Bureau, a US-based government agency, the US experienced an increase in exports and imports. The value of July exports was $251.7 billion, which is $3.9 billion more than June exports. Similarly, the value of July imports was $316.7 billion, an increase of $5.2 billion from June imports. Therefore, the growing demand for imports and exports is driving the growth of the water transport industry.

Key Players In The Global Water Transport Market

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

Global Water Transport Market Trends and Insights

Major companies operating in the water transport market are increasing their focus on introducing reefer services to gain a competitive edge in the market. Reefer services refer to specialized transportation services for goods that require temperature-controlled environments during shipment. For instance, in August 2023, Ocean Network Express (ONE), a Japan-based maritime transport company, launched FLX, a new service connecting the West Coast of South America to the East Coast of North America (Florida). This reefer service targets customers seeking dependable transportation for refrigerated goods in South America, creating a connection between South Florida and destinations including Honduras, Colombia, and the West Coast of South America. The new service is an important development in the water transport market, and it is expected to benefit customers looking for reliable and efficient transportation services for their reefer cargo.

What Are Latest Mergers And Acquisitions In The Water Transport Market?

In September 2024, MEDLOG S.A., a Switzerland-based logistics and transportation company, acquired Maritime Group Limited for an undisclosed amount. With this acquisition, MEDLOG expanded its UK logistics network and strengthened MSC’s overland transport and intermodal capabilities in a key regional market, enhancing its integrated supply chain footprint. Maritime Group Limited is a UK-based logistics and freight services company that specializes in comprehensive supply chain solutions including road and rail freight transport, container movement and storage, domestic distribution, freight management, and related logistics services across its network of sites.

Regional Outlook

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 this market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in this 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.

What Defines the Water Transport Market?

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.

How is Market Value Defined and Measured?

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.

What Key Data and Analysis Are Included in the Water Transport Market Report 2026?

The water transport market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides market statistics, including Market Report 2026?global market size, regional shares, competitors with the market share, detailed market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the water transport Market Report 2026? The market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future state of the Market Report 2026?