Summary

The global sea freight forwarding market size reached USD 83.4 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 107.4 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 2.77% during 2025-2033. The growing number of global and domestic trade activities, increasing demand for safe and fast delivery cargo, and rising cross-border e-commerce activities represent some of the key factors driving the market.

Sea freight forwarding comprises the transportation of a large number of goods by sea through cargo ships from the point of origin to a destination. It is transported through various containers, such as full container load (FCL) and less-than container load (LCL). It is cost-effective and safe to transport hazardous cargo as compared to other modes of transportation. It is environment-friendly and consumes less fuel as carbon emission is very low in this transportation. It can easily transport a heavy load over long distances and has fewer restrictions on transporting goods. It assists in improving security and simplifying sea freight logistics planning, execution, and management. Besides this, it aids in maintaining transparency throughout each stage of a shipment and increasing the profitability of a business. As a result, sea freight forwarding is employed in the automotive, electronics, agriculture, healthcare, textile, and manufacturing industries around the world.

Sea Freight Forwarding Market Trends:
At present, the increasing number of global and domestic trade activities across the globe represents one of the major factors impelling the growth of the market. In addition, the rising demand for sea freight forwarding due to the lesser restrictions as compared to other modes of transportation is propelling the growth of the market. Besides this, the increasing demand for low-cost cargo transportation methods is contributing to the growth of the market. Moreover, the rising demand for sea freight forwarding due to the increasing awareness about reducing the carbon footprint across the globe is offering lucrative growth opportunities to industry investors. Apart from this, the growing adoption of sea freight forwarding due to the rising demand for safe and fast delivery cargo around the world is offering a positive market outlook. Additionally, the increasing cross-border e-commerce due to the popularity of buying numerous goods online is strengthening the growth of the market. In line with this, the rising integration of artificial intelligence (AI), a global positioning system (GPS), and the internet of things (IoT) in the sea freight supply chain for tracking shipments in real-time is supporting the growth of the market. Furthermore, the growing demand for the transportation of cargo through seaways due to the rising air freight charges worldwide is positively influencing the market.

Key Market Segmentation:
IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global sea freight forwarding market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country level from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on type, services, and vertical.

Type Insights:
Full Container Load (FCL)
Less-than Container Load (LCL)
Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the sea freight forwarding market based on the type. This includes full container load (FCL), less-than container load (LCL), and others. According to the report, less-than container load (LCL) represented the largest segment.

Services Insights:

Packaging and Labeling
Documentation and PO Management
Charter Services
Transportation and Warehousing
Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the sea freight forwarding market based on the services has also been provided in the report. This includes packaging and labeling, documentation and PO management, charter services, transportation and warehousing, and others. According to the report, transportation and warehousing accounted for the largest market share.

Vertical Insights:

Retail and FMCG
Manufacturing
Consumer Appliances
Healthcare
Textile
Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the sea freight forwarding market based on the services has also been provided in the report. This includes Retail and FMCG, manufacturing, consumer appliances, healthcare, textile, and others. According to the report, manufacturing accounted for the largest market share.

Regional Insights:
North America
United States
Canada
Asia Pacific
China
Japan
India
South Korea
Australia
Indonesia
Others
Europe
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Russia
Others
Latin America
Brazil
Mexico
Others
Middle East and Africa

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa. According to the report, Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others) was the largest market for sea freight forwarding. Some of the factors driving the Asia Pacific sea freight forwarding market included the growing number of import and export activities, introduction of online freight booking applications, thriving e-commerce industry, etc.

Competitive Landscape:
The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global sea freight forwarding market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, market share by key players, player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided. Some of the companies covered include Agility Logistics, Bolloré Logistcs, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CEVA Logistics, Deutsche Bahn AG, Deutsche Post AG, Expeditors International, Geodis, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE & Co. KG, Kerry Logistics Network Limited, Kuehne + Nagel, Sinotrans Limited, United Parcel Service Inc., Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd., etc. Kindly note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

1. What was the size of the global sea freight forwarding market in 2024?
2. What is the expected growth rate of the global sea freight forwarding market during 2025-2033?
3. What are the key factors driving the global sea freight forwarding market?
4. What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global sea freight forwarding market?
5. What is the breakup of the global sea freight forwarding market based on the type?
6. What is the breakup of the global sea freight forwarding market based on the services?
7. What is the breakup of the global sea freight forwarding market based on vertical?
8. What are the key regions in the global sea freight forwarding market?
9. Who are the key players/companies in the global sea freight forwarding market?

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Table of Contents

1 Preface
2 Scope and Methodology
2.1 Objectives of the Study
2.2 Stakeholders
2.3 Data Sources
2.3.1 Primary Sources
2.3.2 Secondary Sources
2.4 Market Estimation
2.4.1 Bottom-Up Approach
2.4.2 Top-Down Approach
2.5 Forecasting Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Introduction
4.1 Overview
4.2 Key Industry Trends
5 Global Sea Freight Forwarding Market
5.1 Market Overview
5.2 Market Performance
5.3 Impact of COVID-19
5.4 Market Forecast
6 Market Breakup by Type
6.1 Full Container Load (FCL)
6.1.1 Market Trends
6.1.2 Market Forecast
6.2 Less-than Container Load (LCL)
6.2.1 Market Trends
6.2.2 Market Forecast
6.3 Others
6.3.1 Market Trends
6.3.2 Market Forecast
7 Market Breakup by Services
7.1 Packaging and Labelling
7.1.1 Market Trends
7.1.2 Market Forecast
7.2 Documentation and PO Management
7.2.1 Market Trends
7.2.2 Market Forecast
7.3 Charter Services
7.3.1 Market Trends
7.3.2 Market Forecast
7.4 Transportation and Warehousing
7.4.1 Market Trends
7.4.2 Market Forecast
7.5 Others
7.5.1 Market Trends
7.5.2 Market Forecast
8 Market Breakup by Vertical
8.1 Retail and FMCG
8.1.1 Market Trends
8.1.2 Market Forecast
8.2 Manufacturing
8.2.1 Market Trends
8.2.2 Market Forecast
8.3 Consumer Appliances
8.3.1 Market Trends
8.3.2 Market Forecast
8.4 Healthcare
8.4.1 Market Trends
8.4.2 Market Forecast
8.5 Textile
8.5.1 Market Trends
8.5.2 Market Forecast
8.6 Others
8.6.1 Market Trends
8.6.2 Market Forecast
9 Market Breakup by Region
9.1 North America
9.1.1 United States
9.1.1.1 Market Trends
9.1.1.2 Market Forecast
9.1.2 Canada
9.1.2.1 Market Trends
9.1.2.2 Market Forecast
9.2 Asia-Pacific
9.2.1 China
9.2.1.1 Market Trends
9.2.1.2 Market Forecast
9.2.2 Japan
9.2.2.1 Market Trends
9.2.2.2 Market Forecast
9.2.3 India
9.2.3.1 Market Trends
9.2.3.2 Market Forecast
9.2.4 South Korea
9.2.4.1 Market Trends
9.2.4.2 Market Forecast
9.2.5 Australia
9.2.5.1 Market Trends
9.2.5.2 Market Forecast
9.2.6 Indonesia
9.2.6.1 Market Trends
9.2.6.2 Market Forecast
9.2.7 Others
9.2.7.1 Market Trends
9.2.7.2 Market Forecast
9.3 Europe
9.3.1 Germany
9.3.1.1 Market Trends
9.3.1.2 Market Forecast
9.3.2 France
9.3.2.1 Market Trends
9.3.2.2 Market Forecast
9.3.3 United Kingdom
9.3.3.1 Market Trends
9.3.3.2 Market Forecast
9.3.4 Italy
9.3.4.1 Market Trends
9.3.4.2 Market Forecast
9.3.5 Spain
9.3.5.1 Market Trends
9.3.5.2 Market Forecast
9.3.6 Russia
9.3.6.1 Market Trends
9.3.6.2 Market Forecast
9.3.7 Others
9.3.7.1 Market Trends
9.3.7.2 Market Forecast
9.4 Latin America
9.4.1 Brazil
9.4.1.1 Market Trends
9.4.1.2 Market Forecast
9.4.2 Mexico
9.4.2.1 Market Trends
9.4.2.2 Market Forecast
9.4.3 Others
9.4.3.1 Market Trends
9.4.3.2 Market Forecast
9.5 Middle East and Africa
9.5.1 Market Trends
9.5.2 Market Breakup by Country
9.5.3 Market Forecast
10 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
10.1 Overview
10.2 Drivers
10.3 Restraints
10.4 Opportunities
11 Value Chain Analysis
12 Porters Five Forces Analysis
12.1 Overview
12.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
12.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
12.4 Degree of Competition
12.5 Threat of New Entrants
12.6 Threat of Substitutes
13 Price Analysis
14 Competitive Landscape
14.1 Market Structure
14.2 Key Players
14.3 Profiles of Key Players
14.3.1 Agility Logistics
14.3.1.1 Company Overview
14.3.1.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.1.3 Financials
14.3.2 Bolloré Logistcs
14.3.2.1 Company Overview
14.3.2.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.2.3 Financials
14.3.3 C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.
14.3.3.1 Company Overview
14.3.3.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.3.3 Financials
14.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis
14.3.4 CEVA Logistics
14.3.4.1 Company Overview
14.3.4.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.4.3 SWOT Analysis
14.3.5 Deutsche Bahn AG
14.3.5.1 Company Overview
14.3.5.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.5.3 SWOT Analysis
14.3.6 Deutsche Post AG
14.3.6.1 Company Overview
14.3.6.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.6.3 Financials
14.3.6.4 SWOT Analysis
14.3.7 Expeditors International
14.3.7.1 Company Overview
14.3.7.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.8 Geodis
14.3.8.1 Company Overview
14.3.8.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.9 Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE & Co. KG
14.3.9.1 Company Overview
14.3.9.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.10 Kerry Logistics Network Limited
14.3.10.1 Company Overview
14.3.10.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.11 Kuehne + Nagel
14.3.11.1 Company Overview
14.3.11.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.12 Sinotrans Limited
14.3.12.1 Company Overview
14.3.12.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.13 United Parcel Service Inc.
14.3.13.1 Company Overview
14.3.13.2 Product Portfolio
14.3.14 Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd.
14.3.14.1 Company Overview
14.3.14.2 Product Portfolio

Kindly, note that this only represents a partial list of companies, and the complete list has been provided in the report.

List of Figures

Figure 1: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Major Drivers and Challenges
Figure 2: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Billion USD), 2019-2024
Figure 3: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Billion USD), 2025-2033
Figure 4: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Breakup by Type (in %), 2024
Figure 5: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Breakup by Services (in %), 2024
Figure 6: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Breakup by Verticals (in %), 2024
Figure 7: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Breakup by Region (in %), 2024
Figure 8: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Full Container Load (FCL)) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 9: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Full Container Load (FCL)) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 10: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Less-than Container Load (LCL)) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 11: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Less-than Container Load (LCL)) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 12: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Other Types) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 13: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Other Types) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 14: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Packaging and Labelling) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 15: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Packaging and Labelling) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 16: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Documentation and PO Management) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 17: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Documentation and PO Management) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 18: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Charter Services) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 19: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Charter Services) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 20: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Transportation and Warehousing) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 21: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Transportation and Warehousing) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 22: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Other Services) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 23: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Other Services) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 24: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Retail and FMCG) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 25: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Retail and FMCG) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 26: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Manufacturing) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 27: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Manufacturing) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 28: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Consumer Appliances) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 29: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Consumer Appliances) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 30: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Healthcare) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 31: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Healthcare) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 32: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Textile) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 33: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Textile) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 34: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Other Verticals) Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 35: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding (Other Verticals) Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 36: North America: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 37: North America: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 38: United States: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 39: United States: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 40: Canada: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 41: Canada: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 42: Asia-Pacific: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 43: Asia-Pacific: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 44: China: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 45: China: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 46: Japan: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 47: Japan: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 48: India: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 49: India: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 50: South Korea: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 51: South Korea: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 52: Australia: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 53: Australia: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 54: Indonesia: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 55: Indonesia: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 56: Others: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 57: Others: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 58: Europe: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 59: Europe: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 60: Germany: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 61: Germany: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 62: France: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 63: France: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 64: United Kingdom: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 65: United Kingdom: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 66: Italy: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 67: Italy: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 68: Spain: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 69: Spain: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 70: Russia: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 71: Russia: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 72: Others: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 73: Others: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 74: Latin America: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 75: Latin America: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 76: Brazil: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 77: Brazil: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 78: Mexico: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 79: Mexico: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 80: Others: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 81: Others: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 82: Middle East and Africa: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2019 & 2024
Figure 83: Middle East and Africa: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Breakup by Country (in %), 2024
Figure 84: Middle East and Africa: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Sales Value (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Figure 85: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Industry: Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities
Figure 86: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Industry: Value Chain Analysis
Figure 87: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Industry: Porter's Five Forces Analysis

List of Tables

Table 1: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Key Industry Highlights, 2024 & 2033
Table 2: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Breakup by Type (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 3: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Breakup by Services (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 4: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Breakup by Verticals (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 5: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market Forecast: Breakup by Region (in Million USD), 2025-2033
Table 6: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Competitive Structure
Table 7: Global: Sea Freight Forwarding Market: Key Players