Freight forwarding is moving faster and greener at the same time, and the 2025 signals are hard to ignore. AI-driven route optimization is now used by 65% of forwarders, while global CO2 emissions from freight forwarding reached 1.2 billion tons in 2023. Let’s look at where the market share and growth are actually concentrating across air, ocean, road, and digital services.
Key Takeaways
- DHL Global Forwarding held 12.5% market share in global air freight forwarding in 2023.
- Kuehne + Nagel commanded 11.8% of the global ocean freight forwarding market in 2022.
- DB Schenker accounted for 8.2% of European freight forwarding revenue in 2023.
- The global freight forwarding market was valued at USD 140.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 200.5 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.
- Freight forwarding services revenue reached $178.4 billion worldwide in 2022, with air freight contributing 28% of total revenue.
- The Asia-Pacific freight forwarding market size was USD 72.3 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 110.1 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.8%.
- Asia-Pacific region accounted for 45% of global freight forwarding volume in 2023.
- North America represented 22% of worldwide freight forwarding revenue in 2023, totaling $39.2 billion.
- Europe held 28% market share in air freight forwarding globally in 2023.
- Global freight forwarding emitted 1.2 billion tons CO2 in 2023, 3% of total emissions.
- 42% of forwarders committed to net-zero by 2050 under Science Based Targets in 2023.
- EU ETS compliance added €450 million costs to ocean forwarding in 2023.
- 65% of global freight forwarding now uses AI-driven route optimization in 2023.
- Blockchain adoption in freight forwarding bill of lading reached 22% of transactions in 2023.
- IoT sensors monitored 45% of container shipments for real-time tracking in 2023.
Market share leaders, strong growth, and rapid digital and sustainability adoption are reshaping global freight forwarding.
Related reading
02 · Category
Market Size and Growth15 stats
01
The global freight forwarding market was valued at USD 140.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to USD 200.5 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2024 to 2030.
02
Freight forwarding services revenue reached $178.4 billion worldwide in 2022, with air freight contributing 28% of total revenue.
03
The Asia-Pacific freight forwarding market size was USD 72.3 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 110.1 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 4.8%.
04
U.S. freight forwarding market generated $45.6 billion in revenue in 2023, expected to grow at 4.1% CAGR through 2028.
05
Digital freight forwarding market valued at $12.5 billion in 2023, forecasted to hit $45.8 billion by 2030 at 20.3% CAGR.
06
Global ocean freight forwarding segment dominated with 65% market share in 2023, valued at approximately $91.1 billion.
07
European freight forwarding market size stood at €95.2 billion in 2022, growing at 3.7% annually to 2027.
08
Contract logistics within freight forwarding reached $85.4 billion globally in 2023, with 6.2% CAGR projected to 2030.
09
Air freight forwarding market was $40.8 billion in 2023, expected to grow to $58.3 billion by 2030 at 5.2% CAGR.
10
Road freight forwarding in North America valued at $22.7 billion in 2022, projected 4.5% CAGR to $32.1 billion by 2030.
11
Multimodal freight forwarding market size hit $95.6 billion in 2023, with 5.8% CAGR forecast to 2032.
12
China freight forwarding market revenue was CNY 1.2 trillion in 2023, growing at 6.1% CAGR.
13
Global perishable freight forwarding market valued at $15.4 billion in 2023, projected to $24.7 billion by 2031 at 6.1% CAGR.
14
Intermodal freight forwarding in Europe reached €28.5 billion in 2022, expected 4.9% growth to 2030.
15
Latin America freight forwarding market size $18.9 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.3% to $28.4 billion by 2030.
Interpretation
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
While traditional freight forwarding is methodically navigating a steady ocean, its digital counterpart is rocketing into the stratosphere, proving that the future of moving goods belongs to those who innovate as much as they ship.
03 · Category
Regional Analysis18 stats
01
Asia-Pacific region accounted for 45% of global freight forwarding volume in 2023.
02
North America represented 22% of worldwide freight forwarding revenue in 2023, totaling $39.2 billion.
03
Europe held 28% market share in air freight forwarding globally in 2023.
04
China contributed 32% to global ocean freight forwarding TEUs in 2023.
05
Middle East freight forwarding market grew 7.2% YoY in 2023, reaching $12.4 billion.
06
Latin America saw 15% increase in air freight forwarding volumes from Brazil hubs in 2023.
07
Africa’s intra-regional freight forwarding trade volume rose 12% to 45 million tons in 2023.
08
India’s freight forwarding market expanded 9.8% in 2023, driven by exports to $450 billion.
09
Australia-Pacific region handled 8% of global container forwarding, 22 million TEUs in 2023.
10
Southeast Asia intra-trade freight forwarding grew 18% YoY to 120 million tons in 2023.
11
Germany led Europe with 25% of continental freight forwarding throughput in 2023.
12
U.S. West Coast ports managed 40% of North American import forwarding volumes in 2023.
13
Sub-Saharan Africa freight forwarding costs averaged 15% of GDP in 2023.
14
Japan’s air freight forwarding exports surged 11% to 2.1 million tons in 2023.
15
Mexico overtook Canada in Latin American forwarding gateway volumes by 5% in 2023.
16
Russia’s Eurasian forwarding corridors handled 25 million tons, up 22% in 2023.
17
South Korea ports processed 30.5 million TEUs in forwarding, 4% global share in 2023.
18
UAE Dubai hub captured 18% Middle East air freight forwarding in 2023.
Interpretation
Regional Analysis Interpretation
While the Asia-Pacific region may move nearly half the world's cargo by volume, the true story is one of intense regional dynamism, where high growth in emerging markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia contrasts sharply with the revenue dominance of North America and the structural efficiencies and stubborn costs faced by others.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability and Regulatory Aspects15 stats
01
Global freight forwarding emitted 1.2 billion tons CO2 in 2023, 3% of total emissions.
02
42% of forwarders committed to net-zero by 2050 under Science Based Targets in 2023.
03
EU ETS compliance added €450 million costs to ocean forwarding in 2023.
04
Biofuel usage in forwarding vessels reached 8% of fuel mix in 2023.
05
55% reduction in Scope 3 emissions targeted by top 20 forwarders by 2030 in 2023 pledges.
06
IMO 2023 sulfur cap compliance achieved 98% in forwarding fleets.
07
Carbon offsetting covered 31% of air freight forwarding emissions in 2023.
08
27% of forwarders adopted electric vehicles for inland transport in 2023.
09
U.S. Clean Truck Fee imposed $250per TEU on forwarding in California ports 2023.
10
Green corridor initiatives linked 15% of Asia-Europe forwarding routes in 2023.
11
Recycling rates for forwarding packaging hit 72% in Europe under WEEE directive 2023.
12
Hydrogen fuel trials in forwarding ships covered 5 routes, 2% volume in 2023.
13
ESG reporting mandatory for 65% of listed forwarders under SEC rules in 2023.
14
Waste reduction programs cut 18% plastic use in forwarding docs digitally in 2023.
15
36% of forwarders faced new carbon border adjustment taxes in EU trade 2023.
Interpretation
Sustainability and Regulatory Aspects Interpretation
The industry is navigating a sea of costly regulations and green promises with the urgency of a melting glacier, as forwarders scramble to decarbonize a supply chain still heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
05 · Category
Technological and Operational Trends15 stats
01
65% of global freight forwarding now uses AI-driven route optimization in 2023.
02
Blockchain adoption in freight forwarding bill of lading reached 22% of transactions in 2023.
03
IoT sensors monitored 45% of container shipments for real-time tracking in 2023.
04
Digital platforms handled 35% of spot rate bookings in freight forwarding in 2023.
05
Automation reduced documentation processing time by 68% in top forwarders in 2023.
06
52% of forwarders integrated APIs for carrier connectivity by end of 2023.
07
Predictive analytics forecasted 78% accuracy in delay predictions for ocean freight in 2023.
08
Robotic process automation used in 41% of customs clearance operations in 2023.
09
Cloud-based TMS adoption hit 67% among mid-sized forwarders in 2023.
10
5G enabled remote container inspections in 29% of port operations in 2023.
11
Big data analytics optimized 55% of load consolidation in forwarding in 2023.
12
Drone deliveries integrated into last-mile forwarding by 12% of firms in 2023.
13
Machine learning priced dynamic freight rates with 92% accuracy in 2023.
14
38% of forwarders used VR for warehouse training simulations in 2023.
15
Edge computing reduced latency in tracking by 75% for 24% of shipments in 2023.
Interpretation
Technological and Operational Trends Interpretation
The freight industry is becoming a symphony of data-driven precision, where digital tools are no longer just fancy co-pilots but have grabbed the wheel to steer AI-powered routes, robotic paperwork, and blockchain ledgers, all while peering into the future with startlingly accurate predictive eyes, leaving only the last-mile drone delivery to still feel like it's arriving any day now.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Freight Forwarding Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/freight-forwarding-industry-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Freight Forwarding Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/freight-forwarding-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Freight Forwarding Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/freight-forwarding-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
66 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level