Gitnux/Report 2026

Dry Bulk Shipping Industry Statistics

The global dry bulk shipping market is estimated at $157.3 billion in 2026, explore the figures behind growth, companies and trends in dry bulk shipping.
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November 11, 2026Updated
Dry Bulk Shipping Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Before any source is gathered, an editor locks the question, what qualifies, and how the piece will be judged.

02Source Research

Search agents collect the source set and pull each data point out with its provenance attached.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The dry bulk shipping industry at a glance

Dry bulk shipping is a highly fragmented, cyclical market: global seaborne dry-bulk trade reached about 1.4 billion tonnes in 2025, while fleet capacity grew 3%.

$148.1B[86]
Market size, 2025
7.8%[86]
Forecast CAGR, 2026–2033
1,097M dwt[87]
Fleet capacity, 2025
~4%[36]
Pacific Basin Supramax share
Market size
Grand View Research estimated the global dry bulk shipping market at $148.1 billion in 2025 and $157.3 billion in 2026. The estimate covers bulk commodities transported by sea, including iron ore, coal, grains, bauxite and other dry cargoes.[86]
Forecast & CAGR
The market is projected to reach $266.7 billion by 2033, implying a 7.8% CAGR from 2026 to 2033. A separate industry estimate puts 2025–2030 growth at 4.0%, highlighting the wide variation caused by differing market definitions and revenue methodologies.[86][88]
Market share & regions
Pacific Basin reported that its operated dry-bulk cargo distribution in 2025 included Asia at 36%, South America at 15%, Africa at 14%, Australia and New Zealand at 10%, Europe at 10%, North America at 9%, and the Middle East and India at 6%. These figures describe one major operator’s cargo exposure rather than total industry regional market shares.[36]
Segmentation
The industry is commonly segmented by cargo into iron ore, coal, grains, bauxite and other minerals, and by vessel into Capesize, Panamax, Supramax and Handysize. Pacific Basin’s 250-vessel fleet at December 31, 2025 comprised 114 Capesize, 135 Supramax and Handysize vessels, plus one additional vessel classified separately in its fleet table.[86][36]
Key players & concentration
Dry bulk ownership remains fragmented: Pacific Basin operated 250 vessels at December 31, 2025, equivalent to about 3% of global Handysize capacity and about 4% of global Supramax capacity. Star Bulk reported 142 vessels and 14.2 million dwt on a fully delivered basis in 2025, illustrating that even leading listed owners represent limited shares of the global fleet.[36][25]
Pricing
Dry-bulk pricing is volatile and is primarily measured through Baltic Exchange voyage and time-charter indices. In the third quarter of 2025, the Baltic Exchange reported stronger freight rates, supported by higher tonne-mile demand for iron ore and South American grains, after weaker conditions in the first half of the year.[89]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Seaborne dry-bulk demand increased 1.4% in 2025, with iron-ore demand up 2.5% while coal demand fell 4%; total fleet capacity grew 3%. Key risks include China’s industrial cycle, geopolitical rerouting, volatile commodity demand, an orderbook equal to 11% of fleet capacity, and the cost of decarbonization.[87][22]
Consumer behavior & competition
Cargo owners typically compare voyage costs, vessel availability, reliability, port coverage and emissions performance rather than purchasing standardized retail services. Pacific Basin reported more than 600 customers in 2026 and a fleet split between owned, long-term-chartered and short-term-chartered vessels, reflecting competition through network scale and operating flexibility.[36]
M&A
Publicly disclosed 2025 activity included fleet rotation rather than a sector-wide consolidation wave: Costamare Bulkers acquired two secondhand dry-bulk vessels totaling 252,885 dwt and sold nine vessels totaling 427,443 dwt. Pacific Basin also announced newbuilding transactions in April 2026, including dual-fuel and fuel-efficient dry-bulk designs.[87][36]
Regulation
The IMO Net-Zero Framework is intended to introduce a global marine-fuel standard and greenhouse-gas pricing mechanism for oceangoing ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, which account for more than 85% of international shipping emissions. Formal discussions were adjourned for one year in October 2025, leaving implementation timing dependent on future adoption and entry-into-force steps.[4]
Latest news
UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2025 reported that dry-bulk freight rates surged in 2024 because of strong coal, grain and fertilizer demand, Red Sea rerouting and limited fleet growth, before softening in 2025. The report also identified continuing uncertainty, volatility and higher operating costs across maritime transport.[22]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Dry Bulk Shipping Industry

The leading companies in the dry bulk shipping industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

CMB.TECH stands out for dry-bulk fleet scale after integration because it completed its merger with Golden Ocean in August 2025, creating a group with over 250 vessels, while Berge Bulk focuses on Capesize and Newcastlemax dry bulk since it operates a fleet of more than 100 dry bulk ships worldwide.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in dry bulk shipping

    CMB.TECH

    BE

    Ranked #1 · 9.9 · Dry bulk shipping

    Why we picked it: It combines dry-bulk fleet scale with reported revenue growth of 77.2% and an operating margin of 34.7%.

    See in ranking ↓Visit cmb.tech ↗

  2. #2 overall

    Berge Bulk

    SG

    Ranked #2 · 9.3 · Dry bulk shipping

    Why we picked it: Its focus spans Capesize and Newcastlemax dry bulk, backed by a worldwide fleet scale of over 100 ships.

    See in ranking ↓Visit bergebulk.com ↗

  3. #3 overall

    Oldendorff Carriers

    DE

    Ranked #3 · 9.2 · Dry bulk shipping

    Why we picked it: Its integrated ownership, chartering, and operations run at roughly 780 carriers and about 415 million tonnes yearly.

    See in ranking ↓Visit oldendorff.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. No other segment places in the top 5, so picks 2 and 3 follow rank.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the dry bulk shipping industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

CMB.TECH

Dry bulk shipping · BE

9.9
2

Berge Bulk

Dry bulk shipping · SG

9.3
3

Oldendorff Carriers

Dry bulk shipping · DE

9.2
4

COSCO Shipping

Dry bulk shipping · CN

8.7
5

Bahri

Dry bulk shipping · SA

8.7
6

Navios Maritime Partners

Dry bulk shipping · MC

8.4
7

K Line

Dry bulk shipping · JP

8.1
8

Pangaea Logistics Solutions

Dry bulk shipping · US

8.0
9

Diana Shipping

Dry bulk shipping · GR

7.6
10

Seanergy Maritime Holdings

Dry bulk shipping · GR

7.5

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the dry bulk shipping industry. In Dry Bulk Shipping Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dry-bulk-shipping-industry-statistics/#top-companies

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Adoption activity in chartering shows measurable movement: 75% of Danish dry-bulk owners and operators adopted AI in 2025, with 9% scaling and industrializing it.

AI in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 17 respondents from 12 dry-bulk companies were included in a 2025 Danish chartering AI-adoption study.[1]
  • 9 of 12 Danish dry-bulk owners and operators, or 75%, had adopted AI in 2025.[1]
  • 4 of 5 Danish dry-bulk brokers, or 80%, had adopted AI in 2025.[1]
  • 26% of surveyed Danish dry-bulk and tanker chartering participants were experimenting with AI in 2025.[1]
  • 38% of surveyed Danish dry-bulk and tanker chartering participants were implementing or extending an AI pilot in 2025.[1]
  • 9% of surveyed Danish dry-bulk and tanker chartering participants had scaled and industrialized AI in 2025.[1]

Automation in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • More than 1,000 Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships were reported in operation globally in 2021, including cargo-vessel automation trials.[2]
  • 29% of surveyed maritime-industry professionals envisioned fully autonomous vessel operations in 2025.[3]
  • 20% of surveyed maritime-industry professionals identified cargo ships as a leading use case for autonomous shipping in 2025.[3]
  • 41% of surveyed maritime-industry professionals defined autonomous shipping as remote-controlled operations in 2025.[3]
  • 29% of surveyed maritime-industry professionals defined autonomous shipping as partially remote-controlled systems in 2025.[3]
  • 1 January 2032 is the expected entry-into-force date for the IMO’s first mandatory Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships Code.[4]

Digital Transformation in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 51% identified high costs as a challenge to digitalizing logistics operations in 2025.[5]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 63% expected digitalization to enhance customer experience in 2025.[5]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 49% had digitized 50% or fewer of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[6]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 69% expected digitalization to improve efficiency in 2025.[5]
  • Across surveyed freight forwarders and logistics providers, 23% had digitized more than 75% of business processes or transactions in November 2024.[6]

Technology Adoption in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 19% of shippers reported using AI at scale.[7]
  • Across transportation and logistics executives surveyed in Europe and North America, 44% were using AI for transportation planning and optimization in 2025.[8]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying automated real-time shipment tracking to address knowledge-worker shortages in 2024.[7]
  • Across transportation and logistics organizations, 53% were partially or fully deploying AI to reduce workloads in 2024.[7]
  • Among 2026 transportation-management survey respondents, 15% of logistics service providers reported using AI at scale.[7]

Cloud Computing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 75% said cloud was crucial to their organization’s future in 2023.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 85% said leadership viewed cloud as a long-term investment in 2023.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 89% planned to increase AI and machine-learning investment during the following one to two years.[9]
  • Across travel, transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 84% had increased AI and machine-learning investment during the preceding one to two years.[9]

Big Data in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 45% of surveyed multinational logistics and supply-chain organizations said in 2024 that they were using logistics data to its full potential, according to a survey of 60 organizations.[10]
  • 9.5% of transportation and storage enterprises used big-data analytics alone in the OECD’s 2026 cross-sector comparison, based on the latest available enterprise data.[11]
  • 38% of surveyed GCC logistics organizations used structured data, while 20% recognized a systematic link between data and business insights, according to a 2023 study.[3]
  • Among global logistics decision-makers, 49% expected digitalization to improve data visibility in 2025.[5]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Analytics coverage is wide and quantified: 12,000 dry bulk vessels are covered by Oceanbolt’s AIS-based platform, and bulk-carrier ETA prediction accuracy reaches 73% over five days in 2026.

Business intelligence in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 5+ billion tons of cargo are tracked annually across 140 commodities by Oceanbolt’s dry bulk intelligence platform, as reported in 2023.[12]
  • 3.2 million+ tons of coal were identified by Oceanbolt as exported from Australia to China year-to-date in a dry bulk trade-flow analysis reported in 2023.[12]
  • 12,000 dry bulk vessels are covered by Oceanbolt’s AIS-based market-intelligence platform, according to K-Line’s 2023 interview.[12]
  • 300+ unique customers are served by Western Bulk’s dry bulk commercial-management platform, according to its 2025 annual report.[13]
  • 250+ independent freight-rate updates are included in S&P Global’s dry freight intelligence service, as reported in 2026.[14]
  • 14,000 berths are covered by Oceanbolt’s dry bulk business-intelligence platform for port-call analysis, as reported by K-Line in 2023.[12]

Data analytics in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 73% was the five-day destination-prediction accuracy for bulk carriers using Lloyd’s List Intelligence’s machine-learning model in 2026.[15]
  • 11 times more accurate were bulk-carrier ETA predictions from Lloyd’s List Intelligence’s analytics model than raw AIS data in 2026.[15]
  • 17,764 vessels were included in a global AIS-based bulk-shipping analytics study covering fleet productivity, vessel classes and trade regions.[16]
  • 5 companies in a bulk-and-liner chartering study reported using digital systems for detailed vessel-performance monitoring and analytics.[17]
  • 10.9% was the five-day destination accuracy of raw AIS data for bulk carriers in Lloyd’s List Intelligence’s 2026 comparison.[15]
  • 90% of Star Bulk’s fleet had onboard telemetry installed by December 31, 2025, enabling real-time analytics of fuel consumption, emissions and engine efficiency.[18]

Data Quality in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics shippers, 33% identified data quality as a top barrier to scaling artificial intelligence in 2026.[7]
  • Across supply management organizations, 67% said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[19]
  • Across supply management organizations, 49% rated their data quality as good or excellent in 2024.[19]
  • Across supply management organizations, 33% rated their data-security ability as very high for assuring data quality in 2024.[19]

Data Governance in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance function, 47% housed it in a center of excellence in 2024.[19]
  • Across supply management organizations, 61% had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024.[19]
  • Across supply management organizations with a data-governance program, 81% found the program useful in 2024.[19]
  • 19% of shipper respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running ahead, meaning proactive and predictable, in the 2024 global survey.[20]
  • 32% of transport and logistics respondents said data governance or security was a primary challenge when preparing data for artificial intelligence in 2024.[21]
  • 39% of 3PL respondents said their supply chain governance maturity was running in place, with no noticeable progress, in the 2024 global survey.[20]

KPIs in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 10.5 days was the average port time for bulk-shipping voyages in an AIS-based productivity study published in 2025.[16]
  • 46.5 tons per minute was the 2021 Cape-size dry-bulk loading rate reported for South Africa by UNCTAD.[22]
  • 7.0 tons per minute was the 2021 Handysize dry-bulk loading rate reported for Japan by UNCTAD.[22]
  • 71.2 tons per minute was the 2021 Cape-size dry-bulk loading rate reported for Australia by UNCTAD.[22]
  • 5.9 tons per minute was the 2021 Handysize dry-bulk loading rate reported for the Russian Federation by UNCTAD.[22]
  • 77.9 tons per minute was the 2021 Cape-size dry-bulk loading rate reported for Brazil by UNCTAD.[22]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Fleet growth and orderbook levels stay central: the total dry bulk orderbook was 113.2 million dwt in the first half of 2025, while the orderbook reached 1,422 vessels in August 2026.

Growth in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 2.4% was dry bulk fleet growth recorded in 2026 through August, according to Affinity Shipping.[23]
  • 113.2 million dwt was the total dry bulk orderbook reported in the first half of 2025.[24]
  • 3.0% was the net growth of the global dry bulk fleet in 2025, reaching approximately 1,054 million dwt worldwide.[18]
  • 30.1 million dwt represented the Supramax/Ultramax orderbook at year-end 2025.[18]
  • 1.5% was total dry bulk fleet growth in the first half of 2025.[24]
  • 1,422 vessels comprised the dry bulk orderbook in August 2026.[23]

Differentiation in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 142 dry bulk vessels formed Star Bulk’s fully delivered fleet in its 2024 ESG report, with carrying capacities from 55,569 to 209,537 dwt.[25]
  • 13.9% of dry bulk vessels were scrubber-fitted as of August 2024.[26]
  • 11.9 years was the average age of Star Bulk’s fleet reported in its 2024 ESG report.[25]
  • 25% was the average price premium for eco vessels over conventional vessels in the studied shipping-market sample.[27]
  • 97% of Star Bulk’s 155-vessel fully delivered fleet was fitted with scrubbers after the Eagle merger.[18]
  • 155 vessels comprised Star Bulk’s combined owned fleet on a fully delivered basis after the Eagle merger.[18]

Mergers and acquisitions in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • $478 million was the estimated relative net asset value of Pangaea used in the MTM transaction announcement.[18]
  • $56.8 million was the total net consideration for Golden Ocean’s sale of one Newcastlemax and one Panamax vessel in 2024.[28]
  • 33,000 to 40,000 dwt was the size range of the 15 vessels included in Pangaea’s MTM transaction.[29]
  • 15 Handy-size dry bulk vessels were included in Pangaea’s combination with Strategic Shipping Inc.[30]
  • 29% of Pangaea’s outstanding common stock was represented by the planned share consideration for the MTM transaction.[18]
  • 100% of Norlat Shipping’s shares were acquired by NORDEN in September 2024.[31]

Strategic partnerships in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 15% was Invictus Investment’s ownership share of special-purpose vehicles acquiring five dry bulk vessels with SAFEEN Feeders.[32]
  • 2 multipurpose vessels were launched by Continental Kapital in August 2024.[33]
  • 6 multipurpose vessels were planned for Continental Kapital, with total investment of HK$2 billion.[33]
  • 37 vessels comprised Costamare Bulkers’ dry bulk fleet under its 2025 cooperation agreement with Cargill, including six agreed for sale.[34]
  • 2 years was the duration of the GCMD–INTERCARGO coalition partnership signed to advance dry bulk decarbonization.[35]
  • 50% was Seacon’s ownership share in the Continental Kapital dry-cargo joint venture with SeaKapital.[33]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce metrics show structured retention and training emphasis: Pacific Basin reported 412 shore-based employees across 38 nationalities in 2025 and a 94% overall crew retention rate in 2024.

Hiring in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 412 shore-based employees worked for Pacific Basin in 2025 across 38 nationalities.[36]
  • 39 nationalities were represented across Pacific Basin’s shore staff and seafarers in 2024.[36]
  • 44% of Pacific Basin’s workforce ashore were women in 2024.[36]
  • 149 people were employed on average by Clipper Dry Bulk in 2019, providing the company’s shore-based talent base.[37]
  • 70 female seafarers, including 21 officers, were employed on Pacific Basin’s owned dry bulk vessels in 2025.[36]

Employee retention in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 28% was Safe Bulkers’ seafarer turnover rate in 2025.[28]
  • 94% was Pacific Basin’s overall crew retention rate in 2024.[36]
  • 37% of Pacific Basin’s shore staff had at least 10 years of service in 2025.[36]
  • 85% of Pacific Basin employees said they enjoyed working at the company in 2025.[36]
  • 93.5% was Clipper Dry Bulk’s employee retention rate in 2019, up from 86.4% in 2018.[37]

Remote Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities, 20.3% of workers could work from home in 2024–2025, while 18.6% actually did so, according to annual averages.[38]
  • Among U.S. transportation, logistics, supply-chain and storage hires, 17.0% of hires at small companies were remote during the year ending September 2024.[39]
  • In the U.S. transportation and warehousing industry, 13.9% of wage and salary employees worked from home in January 2025.[40]
  • Across U.S. transportation and utilities occupations, about 11% of workers worked remotely at least sometimes from October 2023 through September 2024.[41]

Hybrid Work in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across transportation and logistics companies surveyed globally, 42% reported a hybrid work arrangement in 2025.[42]
  • Among transportation employers surveyed for the U.S. Job Outlook, 33.3% reported fully hybrid work arrangements in 2024.[43]
  • Among U.S. remote-capable employees, 54% worked hybrid schedules in August 2026.[44]
  • Globally, 25% of engaged employees were working in hybrid arrangements in 2025, compared with 30% of exclusively remote employees and 17% of on-site, non-remote-capable employees.[44]

Upskilling in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 3.49 average training hours per employee were recorded by Star Bulk in 2024, up from 2.94 hours in 2023.[25]
  • 6 dry bulk and container vessels participated in BSM’s pilot Competence Management System in 2023.[45]
  • 29 Star Bulk employees were promoted in 2024, including 11 women and 18 men.[25]
  • 6 Pacific Basin officer-and-rating training seminars were held in 2024, attended by 561 seafarers.[36]
  • 1,150 hours of training were provided to Safe Bulkers’ seafarers in 2025.[28]

Employee Engagement in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • In U.S. logistics, 71% of frontline workers reported workplace stress in 2024.[46]
  • In U.S. logistics, 40% of frontline workers wanted to quit in 2024, according to a survey of 500 logistics employees.[46]
  • In U.S. logistics, more than 60% of frontline workers considered their roles long-term career commitments in 2024.[46]
  • Globally, 20% of employees were engaged at work in 2025, while 16% were actively disengaged.[44]
  • Across Asia-Pacific transport and logistics organizations, 62% of employees were actively engaged, based on feedback from 30,116 employees in 24 surveys.[47]

DEI in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 65% of Pacific Basin’s general-staff positions were held by women in 2025.[36]
  • 38% of Lauritzen Bulkers’ employees were women at year-end 2023, down from 40% in 2022.[48]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer concentration and chartering duration matter: Pacific Basin reported more than 600 customers in 2026 and a fleet split across owned, long-term-chartered, and short-term-chartered vessels.

Customer experience in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 26.87% of Safe Bulkers’ 2023 revenue came from Olam International and Cargill International, its two largest dry-bulk charterers.[49]
  • $72.939 million was Danaos Corporation’s 2025 dry-bulk customer revenue from Australia and Asia.[50]
  • $859,000 was Danaos Corporation’s 2025 dry-bulk customer revenue from the Americas.[50]
  • Over 30 national, regional and international companies had been Safe Bulkers’ customers since 2005, including commodity traders and shipping companies.[49]
  • 33.52% of Safe Bulkers’ 2022 revenue came from Viterra and Cargill International, its two largest dry-bulk charterers.[49]

Customer retention in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 13.0% of Safe Bulkers’ 2025 revenue came from four Capesize vessels employed under long-period time charters.[18]
  • 13,633 active dry-bulk vessels, totaling about 1.009 billion dwt, were reported worldwide as of March 1, 2024.[51]
  • 14.5% of Navios Maritime Partners’ revenue came from one customer in the reported year, while no other customer exceeded 10%.[51]
  • More than 20 charterers employed Costamare’s dry-bulk fleet in the company’s reported 2023 filing.[52]
  • 0.6 years was Safe Bulkers’ average remaining charter duration for its existing fleet as of February 28, 2025.[49]

Customer acquisition in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 14,612 active dry-bulk vessels, totaling approximately 1.066 billion dwt, were reported worldwide as of January 1, 2026.[28]
  • $87.023 million was Danaos Corporation’s total dry-bulk operating revenue in 2025, reflecting its acquired dry-bulk customer base.[50]
  • Over 30 national, regional and international companies had become Safe Bulkers customers since 2005.[49]
  • 10 companies were known to control dry-bulk fleets of at least 106 vessels as of January 1, 2026.[28]
  • $77.033 million was Danaos Corporation’s total dry-bulk operating revenue in 2024.[50]

Customer loyalty in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 33.52% of Safe Bulkers’ 2022 revenue came from two charterers, Viterra and Cargill International.[49]
  • More than 20 charterers employed Costamare’s dry-bulk fleet in 2023, indicating a diversified relationship base.[52]
  • Since 2005, Safe Bulkers’ customers have included over 30 national, regional and international companies.[49]
  • 13.0% of Safe Bulkers’ 2025 revenue came from four Capesize vessels on long-period time charters.[18]
  • 26.87% of Safe Bulkers’ 2023 revenue came from two charterers, Olam International and Cargill International.[49]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Brand study participation is documented through measurable sample design: 57 questionnaires were distributed in 2024, with 30 returned, and 17 companies supplied TCE data.

Marketing in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 30 of 57 distributed questionnaires were returned by dry bulk shipping professionals in 2024.[17]
  • 35 points was the maximum possible score for an individual corporate brand under the unweighted modified Brand Equity Ten questionnaire.[17]
  • 17 dry bulk shipping companies supplied TCE data for the study’s marketing-performance analysis using financial-year data collected in 2024.[17]
  • 35 global dry bulk shipping companies were shortlisted for a 2024 corporate-brand marketing study.[17]
  • 19 dry bulk shipping companies supplied book-value data for the study’s marketing and company-size analysis using 2024 data.[17]

Branding in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 28.02 points was the standard deviation of Corporate Brand Strength Scores in the dry bulk shipping sample.[17]
  • 8 companies formed the upper 50% corporate-brand-strength group, while 9 formed the lower 50% group in the dry bulk shipping sample.[17]
  • 0.43 was the correlation coefficient between corporate brand strength and book value among sampled dry bulk shipping companies.[17]
  • 17 dry bulk shipping companies were included in the corporate-brand strength and TCE hypothesis tests.[17]
  • 88.06 points was the range between the maximum and minimum corporate brand-strength scores in the dry bulk shipping sample.[17]

Influencer Marketing in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • 29% of B2B companies planned to adopt influencer marketing within the following year in 2025, globally.[53]
  • 53% of U.S. B2B marketers reported a growing dedicated influencer-marketing budget in 2024 survey data.[54]
  • 55% of B2B companies used influencers in 2025, according to a global survey of marketing decision-makers.[53]
  • 49% of B2B marketers selected industry relevance as a criterion for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[53]
  • 58% of B2B marketers selected authenticity and credibility as criteria for choosing influencers in 2025, globally.[53]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operational timing remains measurable in voyage and port calls: average 2024 port turnaround time was 2.7 days globally, and average port time for bulk-shipping voyages was 10.5 days in an AIS-based productivity study.

Process optimization in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 12,800 bulk-carrier inspections were conducted by the Tokyo MoU in 2024.[55]
  • 2.7 days was the average 2024 port turnaround time for dry bulk carriers globally.[22]
  • 3 findings resulted from Zodiac Maritime’s 26 inspections under the 2024 crew-wages concentrated inspection campaign.[56]
  • 10.9 hours was the average December 2024 vessel waiting time in developing countries, including dry bulk calls.[22]
  • 6.4 hours was the average December 2024 vessel waiting time in developed countries, including dry bulk calls.[22]

Operational efficiency in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 4.0% was the increase in global dry-bulk commodity demand during 2023.[22]
  • 2.83 grams of CO2 per deadweight-tonne mile was Safe Bulkers’ average AER in 2025.[28]
  • 3.1% was the increase in global dry-bulk shipping capacity during 2023.[22]
  • 22.0% was Safe Bulkers’ cumulative reduction in carbon intensity from 2021 through 2025.[28]
  • 33.9 million metric tons of dry bulk cargo were transported by Safe Bulkers in 2025.[28]

Quality management in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 1.91% was the 2024 global average bulk-carrier detention rate.[55]
  • 20 bulk carriers of at least 10,000 dwt were lost during 2015–2024.[55]
  • 89 crew members died in bulk-carrier losses during 2015–2024.[55]
  • 18.3 years was the average age of bulk carriers lost during 2015–2024.[55]
  • 0.62 lost-time injuries per million manhours was the 2024 INTERCARGO member-fleet rate.[55]

Supply chain in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 6.08 million metric tons of grains were transported by Safe Bulkers in 2025.[28]
  • 3.0 billion metric tons of maritime cargo were discharged by China in 2024.[57]
  • 33.89 million metric tons was Safe Bulkers’ total transported dry-bulk cargo in 2025.[28]
  • 1.46 million metric tons of stones and cokes were transported by Safe Bulkers in 2025.[28]
  • 12.1 billion metric tons of goods were loaded for international maritime trade worldwide in 2024.[57]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the transportation and logistics sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 57% planned outsourcing projects in warehousing in 2026.[58]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, about 60% had fully outsourced transportation services in 2026.[58]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 65% expected outsourcing to continue increasing in 2026.[58]
  • Across surveyed logistics companies in Germany, the rest of Europe and Latin America, 25% had fully outsourced warehouse operations in 2026.[58]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Rate volatility is visible in index-linked figures: the average Baltic Dry Index was 1,681 points in 2025 versus 1,755 points in 2024.

Pricing strategy in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • $11,243 per day was Western Bulk’s average Baltic Supramax Index rate in the first half of 2025, down 30% year on year.[13]
  • $11,642 per day was EuroDry’s average fleet time-charter-equivalent rate in 2025, down from $13,039 per day in 2024.[18]
  • 1,681 points was the average Baltic Dry Index in 2025, compared with 1,755 points in 2024, according to EuroDry’s annual filing.[18]
  • $14,149 per day was the 2025 dry-bulk daily time-charter-equivalent rate for the reporting fleet, compared with $15,353 in 2024.[18]
  • $10,750 per day was the approximate average dry-bulk freight rate during the first half of 2025, about 30% below the same period in 2024.[22]

Cost reduction in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • $5,226 per day was Euroseas’ dry-bulk daily vessel operating expense in 2025, down from $5,597 per day in 2024.[18]
  • $6,503 per day was the total-fleet daily vessel operating expense in 2025 for the fleet reported by Diana Shipping, compared with $6,772 in 2024.[18]
  • $28.9 million was the reduction in bunker expense for Navios Maritime Partners in 2025, primarily due to fewer freight-voyage days.[18]
  • 5% was the estimated fuel-use reduction from propeller-duct installations cited for dry-bulk vessels in Star Bulk’s efficiency program.[59]
  • 62 energy-saving-device installations had been completed by Star Bulk, with seven more planned for 2026.[59]

Profitability in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • $263.1 million was Pacific Basin’s EBITDA in 2025, generating basic earnings of HK$0.089 per share.[36]
  • $2.45 million was Danaos’ dry-bulk net loss for the twelve months ended March 31, 2025.[60]
  • $35 million was D/S Norden’s dry-operator EBIT loss in 2025, improved from a $111 million loss in 2024.[28]
  • $1.89 million was Danaos’ adjusted dry-bulk net loss for the twelve months ended March 31, 2025.[60]
  • $15.3 million was EuroDry’s net income in 2025, compared with $10.8 million in 2024.[18]

Financial planning in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • $30.986 million was Star Bulk’s dry-docking expense in 2025, compared with $47.718 million in 2024.[18]
  • $35.5 million was the benchmark price of a five-year-old Capesize vessel at the start of 2021, a reference point for fleet-renewal planning.[28]
  • $21.14 million was the purchase price of EuroDry’s 63,177-dwt Ultramax carrier delivered in October 2023.[18]
  • $3.8 million was unearned revenue received before December 31, 2025 for services to be rendered after that date by Safe Bulkers.[18]
  • The end of the first half of 2026 was the point through which EuroDry expected existing cash and operating cash flow to cover liquidity needs in its 2024 filing.[18]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Alternative-fuel readiness appears in orderbook and design shares: 14% of dry bulk ship capacity in the 2025 orderbook is prepared for future alternative-fuel retrofits worldwide.

Product development in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 41% of alternative-fuel-capable dry bulk orderbook capacity is designed for LNG, 2025 worldwide.[61]
  • Five ammonia-fuelled vessel orders in 2024 were in the bulk-carrier segment worldwide.[62]
  • 30% of projected 2025–2026 dry bulk deliveries are expected to be Supramax vessels worldwide.[61]
  • 14% of dry bulk ship capacity in the 2025 orderbook will be prepared for future alternative-fuel retrofits worldwide.[61]
  • 50% of all newbuild tonnage ordered across shipping in 2024 had alternative-fuel capability, including dry bulk vessel orders worldwide.[63]

Product lifecycle in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 98.4 million deadweight tonnes, representing 1,854 bulk carriers, were at least 20 years old at the end of 2024.[64]
  • 65 bulk carriers were sold for recycling in 2024, including 19 Panamax vessels worldwide.[65]
  • 11.5% of Newcastlemax bulk carriers were older than 16 years in early 2025 worldwide.[65]
  • 12.5 years was the average age of the global bulk-carrier fleet in 2024 on a Clarksons Research fleet basis.[11]
  • The average dry bulk vessel scrapping age over the previous decade was between 25 and 27 years.[18]

After-sales in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 141 dry bulk carrier vessels formed Star Bulk’s fully delivered fleet as of February 25, 2026.[18]
  • $5.0 million was Safe Bulkers’ annual ship-management fee to Safe Bulkers Management Monaco in 2025.[18]
  • 3,767 operating days were recorded by the company’s dry bulk segment in 2024.[18]
  • 100% was the dry bulk fleet utilization reported by the company in 2025 in its operational metrics.[18]
  • 98.8% was EuroDry’s dry bulk fleet utilization in 2024.[18]

Value proposition in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • $14,149 per day was the dry bulk daily time-charter-equivalent rate in 2025 for the reported fleet.[18]
  • Approximately 12.5 million metric tonnes of cargo were transported annually by DryDel as of December 31, 2024.[66]
  • 79.8 million tonnes of cargo were transported by Pacific Basin in 2025.[36]
  • 2.7% was the estimated average annual growth in global seaborne dry bulk trade measured in tonne-miles from 2015 to 2025.[18]
  • 90.2 million tonnes of cargo were transported by Pacific Basin in 2024.[36]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Decarbonization readiness and safety documentation are both tracked: 100% of DryDel’s fleet was enrolled in the E-ZERO programme in 2024, and all DryDel vessels maintained valid Safety Management Certificates and Documents of Compliance in 2024.

Sustainability in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 20 bulk carriers of at least 10,000 deadweight tonnes were lost between 2015 and 2024, according to INTERCARGO.[55]
  • 100% of DryDel’s fleet was enrolled in the E-ZERO programme in 2024.[66]
  • 100% of Swire Bulk’s owned and chartered-in vessels were certified under the Maritime Labour Convention in 2024.[67]
  • 99.7% was Diana Shipping’s fleet utilization rate in 2024.[68]
  • 24.37 million metric tonnes of dry bulk cargo were transported by Diana Shipping in 2024.[68]

ESG in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • Two 81,200-deadweight-tonne methanol dual-fuel dry bulk vessels were ordered by Diana Shipping in 2024.[68]
  • 35 emergency scenarios were covered by DryDel drills in 2024.[66]
  • 7 out of 7 was DryDel’s reported RightShip DOC rating in 2024.[66]
  • 65% of Gearbulk crew officers had completed anti-bribery and corruption training at the end of 2024.[69]
  • 63% of Gearbulk shore employees had completed anti-bribery and corruption training at the end of 2024.[69]

Ethics in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • Zero legal corruption cases were brought against Gearbulk or its employees in 2024.[69]
  • Zero incidents of anti-competitive behaviour, money laundering, anti-trust or monopolistic practices involved Swire Bulk in 2024.[67]
  • Zero active-vendor incidents related to corruption were recorded by Gearbulk in 2024.[69]
  • 4 of Swire Bulk’s 6 reported grievances in 2024 were substantiated and addressed by ship-management companies.[67]
  • Zero legal proceedings associated with bribery or corruption were recorded by Swire Bulk in 2024.[67]

CSR in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 100% of DryDel vessels maintained valid Safety Management Certificates and Documents of Compliance in 2024.[66]
  • 42 DryDel employees completed dedicated health and wellbeing courses in 2024.[66]
  • 45% of bulk-carrier losses between 2015 and 2024 were caused by groundings.[55]
  • 396.5 training hours were delivered through Sino-Ocean Group sustainability programmes in 2024.[70]
  • 570 participants attended Sino-Ocean Group sustainability training in 2024.[70]

Circular economy in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 63.4 cubic metres was the average garbage generation per Navios dry bulk vessel in 2024.[71]
  • 5.2 million deadweight tonnes of dry bulk vessel capacity were sold for demolition in 2025.[18]
  • 204.40 cubic metres of non-hazardous waste were reported by DryDel for 2023.[66]
  • 86.9 cubic metres was the average sludge generation per Navios dry bulk vessel in 2024.[71]
  • 53.5 cubic metres was the average bilge generation per Navios dry bulk vessel in 2024.[71]

Carbon footprint in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • Bulk-carrier emissions remained stable in 2024 despite a 15% increase in reporting ships and a 3% increase in nautical miles travelled.[72]
  • 46.8 million tonnes of fuel were consumed by ships monitored under the EU MRV system in 2024.[72]
  • 0.06 grams per tonne-mile was the approximate 2024 SOx intensity shown for Navios dry bulk carriers.[71]
  • 29 Navios vessels had scrubbers installed by December 2024, including 12 retrofits completed during 2024.[71]
  • 70.6% of monitored shipping emissions came from extra-EEA voyages in 2024.[72]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Network scale is reported in ports and offices: Pacific Basin served 882 ports across 100 countries in 2024 with 14 offices in its distribution and commercial network.

Globalization in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 39% of Costamare Bulkers’ customer base was located in Australia and New Zealand in 2024, based on loading-port geography.[28]
  • 23% of Costamare Bulkers’ customer base was located in South America in 2024, based on loading-port geography.[28]
  • 3.0% was global dry-bulk fleet growth in 2025, reaching approximately 1.04 billion deadweight tonnes.[82]
  • 0.9% was the expected expansion in global dry-bulk trade measured in tonne-miles for 2025.[18]
  • 12.6 billion tonnes was total annual world seaborne trade in 2024, including more than 5.7 billion tonnes of dry-bulk cargo.[28]

Cultural adaptation in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 70% of seafarers responding to the 2024 SEAFiT survey were Filipino.[83]
  • 17 nationalities were represented among nearly 125 female seafarers serving on Oldendorff Carriers’ vessels.[84]
  • 76.2% of seafarers responding to the 2024 SEAFiT survey were from Asia, reflecting the industry’s strongly multicultural workforce.[83]
  • 4,600 seafarers served on Pacific Basin’s owned ships in 2024, requiring multicultural crew-management practices across its global operations.[36]
  • 14 offices formed Pacific Basin’s global operating network in 2024, spanning multiple cultural and maritime markets.[36]

Supplier management in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 232 suppliers were subject to Quanta’s 2024 CSR audit statistics, including 39 externally audited material suppliers and 131 Quanta-audited suppliers.[85]
  • 22 governance supplier-audit deficiencies were recorded by Quanta in 2024.[85]
  • 127 suppliers at Quanta’s QCMC site were included in the 2024 CSR questionnaire distribution.[85]
  • 41 suppliers at Quanta’s QSMC site were included in the 2024 CSR questionnaire distribution.[85]
  • 50 service suppliers were included in Quanta’s 2024 CSR questionnaire distribution.[85]

Stakeholder management in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 14.9 million nautical miles were travelled by Pacific Basin vessels in 2024.[36]
  • 403 shore-based employees worked for Pacific Basin in 2024 across its global network.[36]
  • 600+ cargo customers were served by Pacific Basin in 2024, including industrial producers, traders and users of dry-bulk commodities.[36]
  • 61% of EuroDry’s revenue came from its five largest customers in 2025, showing material stakeholder concentration among charterers.[18]
  • 30% of EuroDry’s revenue came from its largest customer, Oldendorff, in 2025.[18]

Distribution channels in the dry bulk shipping industry

  • 14% of Costamare Bulkers’ customer base was connected to African loading ports in 2024.[28]
  • 882 ports across 100 countries were served by Pacific Basin in 2024.[36]
  • 111 Handy and Supramax ships were in Pacific Basin’s owned fleet on average in 2024.[36]
  • 14 offices comprised Pacific Basin’s distribution and commercial network in 2024.[36]
  • 8% of Costamare Bulkers’ customer base was connected to North American loading ports in 2024.[28]

Key questions about the dry bulk shipping industry

What is the dry bulk shipping market size in 2025 and 2026?
The market size was $148.1B in 2025 and is estimated at $157.3B in 2026.
How fast is the dry bulk shipping market expected to grow from 2026 onward?
The market is projected to reach $266.7B by 2033, implying a 7.8% CAGR from 2026 to 2033.
Which companies lead the dry bulk shipping industry?
CMB.TECH stands out for dry-bulk fleet scale after integration because it completed its merger with Golden Ocean in August 2025, creating a group with over 250 vessels, while Berge Bulk focuses on Capesize and Newcastlemax dry bulk since it operates a fleet of more than 100 dry bulk ships worldwide.
What technology shifts are showing up in dry bulk shipping operations?
In a 2025 Danish chartering AI-adoption study, 75% of Danish dry-bulk owners and operators had adopted AI, while 38% were implementing or extending an AI pilot.
How fragmented is dry bulk shipping in terms of capacity concentration?
Ownership remains fragmented: Pacific Basin operated 250 vessels at December 31, 2025, equivalent to about 3% of global Handysize capacity and about 4% of global Supramax capacity.
What drives pricing and why do rates move sharply?
Dry-bulk pricing is primarily measured through Baltic Exchange voyage and time-charter indices, and freight rates were stronger in Q3 2025 after weaker conditions in the first half.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Dry Bulk Shipping Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dry-bulk-shipping-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Dry Bulk Shipping Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/dry-bulk-shipping-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Dry Bulk Shipping Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/dry-bulk-shipping-industry-statistics.

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