About 90% of world trade by volume still travels by sea, yet the pressure points are shifting fast as 2025 forecasts call for 2.4% growth in world merchandise volumes and 2.8% growth in seaborne trade. At the same time, compliance and cost realities are tightening, with IMO reporting and efficiency measures moving beyond pilots and into broad uptake. From Asia’s 37% share of containerized trade through major ports to fuel and emissions rules that can swing voyage economics, these statistics help explain why shipping planning now looks and feels different.
Key Takeaways
- 90% of world trade by volume moves by sea (an estimated share), according to UNCTAD—shipping is the backbone of global trade flows.
- 2.4% projected growth in world merchandise trade volumes in 2025, per UNCTAD—forecast indicates continued shipping demand expansion.
- 2.8% projected growth in seaborne trade volumes in 2025, according to UNCTAD—indicates continued momentum for shipping volumes.
- US$160–190 billion of annual investment is needed by 2030 to decarbonize shipping in line with IMO ambition scenarios, highlighting the capital intensity of the transition.
- As of 2024, low-sulfur fuel (LSFO) price differentials vs. high-sulfur fuel (HSFO) under the IMO 2020 regime have frequently exceeded $200 per metric ton during high-demand periods, materially impacting voyage costs.
- The IMO initial GHG strategy sets targets including reducing GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels, framing the long-term compliance direction.
- The IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requires annual operational rating (A–E) for covered ships, with mandatory corrective actions for D-rated performance (shortfalls).
- The EU FuelEU Maritime regulation sets limits and incentives for reducing lifecycle GHG intensity, including reporting requirements beginning in the early 2020s and stricter rules over time.
- China’s ports handled 321 million TEU in 2023 (as reported in industry port statistics), representing the world’s largest container throughput by country.
- The global seaborne trade market (all cargo types) was estimated at about 12.1 billion tonnes in 2023, indicating the large underlying throughput base for shipping services.
- In 2023, the global average speed of container vessels on major tradelanes was reported at roughly 13–14 knots (industry monitoring), affecting fuel consumption and capacity utilization.
- Dry bulk voyage efficiency improved by about 2%–4% in 2023 according to market analytics (measured as tonne-miles per vessel day), showing better throughput per unit time.
- In 2023, average fuel consumption for LNG carriers was reported in the low double-digit grams per kWh range in industry studies for modern propulsion systems, highlighting efficiency at the system level.
Shipping underpins global trade, with demand rising in 2025 and major decarbonization and compliance efforts accelerating.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends10 stats
01
90% of world trade by volume moves by sea (an estimated share), according to UNCTAD—shipping is the backbone of global trade flows.
02
2.4% projected growth in world merchandise trade volumes in 2025, per UNCTAD—forecast indicates continued shipping demand expansion.
03
2.8% projected growth in seaborne trade volumes in 2025, according to UNCTAD—indicates continued momentum for shipping volumes.
04
37% of global containerized trade uses major container ports in Asia, per UNCTAD—high concentration affects port capacity planning and routing.
05
In 2023, global container shipping recorded an average route productivity (TEU-km per vessel day) index where Asia–Europe lanes led, showing strong main-lane operational performance.
06
Between 2019 and 2022, the average age of the global container fleet increased by about 0.8 years, suggesting post-pandemic fleet age pressure.
07
In 2024, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that the global fleet’s uptake of Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) compliance is progressing, with over 80% of relevant ships submitted to class/flag authorities.
08
The total IMO member state reporting for the Data Collection System (DCS) for fuel consumption has exceeded 99% of applicable ships in recent reporting cycles, indicating broad adoption of voyage fuel data reporting.
09
In 2023, the share of fleet capacity in the top 20 container liner operators was over 60% by capacity (industry rankings), reflecting market concentration.
10
In 2023, the share of ships fitted with advanced hull coatings (fouling-release or energy-saving coatings) was estimated to be above 30% in new installations (industry survey).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For Industry Trends, the data show shipping demand and operational momentum are continuing to build, with UNCTAD projecting 2.8% growth in seaborne trade volumes in 2025 and the IMO reporting that over 80% of relevant ships have progressed with EEXI and CII compliance, underscoring a sector that is both expanding and tightening its efficiency and emissions performance.
02 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
US$160–190 billion of annual investment is needed by 2030 to decarbonize shipping in line with IMO ambition scenarios, highlighting the capital intensity of the transition.
02
As of 2024, low-sulfur fuel (LSFO) price differentials vs. high-sulfur fuel (HSFO) under the IMO 2020 regime have frequently exceeded $200per metric ton during high-demand periods, materially impacting voyage costs.
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost pressure is set to intensify as decarbonization demands US$160–190 billion in annual investment by 2030 while IMO 2020-driven fuel price differentials have often surged beyond $200 per metric ton, materially raising voyage costs and underscoring the capital and operating intensity of the transition.
03 · Category
Regulation & Compliance9 stats
01
The IMO initial GHG strategy sets targets including reducing GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels, framing the long-term compliance direction.
02
The IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requires annual operational rating (A–E) for covered ships, with mandatory corrective actions for D-rated performance (shortfalls).
03
The EU FuelEU Maritime regulation sets limits and incentives for reducing lifecycle GHG intensity, including reporting requirements beginning in the early 2020s and stricter rules over time.
04
EU ETS maritime coverage under Directive 2003/87/EC expanded to include 100% of emissions from voyages within the EU and to/from EU ports for maritime operators from 2024.
05
The IMO 2020 sulfur cap sets a limit of 0.50% sulfur in marine fuels from 1 January 2020 for most use cases, a direct compliance parameter.
06
The Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention requires treatment of ballast water to meet D-2 performance standards, aiming to reduce invasive species introductions.
07
IMO’s International Safety Management (ISM) Code requires safety management systems (SMS) aboard ships to meet defined safety and pollution-prevention objectives.
08
SOLAS Chapter II-2 fire protection requirements set mandatory construction and operational standards affecting ship fire safety systems and drills.
09
In 2023, the share of vessels meeting EEXI/CII implementation requirements was reported as increasing to a large majority of applicable tonnage per industry compliance monitoring.
Interpretation
Regulation & Compliance Interpretation
Under Regulation and Compliance, the industry is shifting from setting direction to enforcing it, with measures like at least 50% GHG reduction by 2050 under the IMO strategy, EU ETS expanding to cover 100% of EU and port voyage emissions from 2024, and 2023 reporting showing a large majority of applicable tonnage meeting EEXI and CII implementation requirements.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
China’s ports handled 321 million TEU in 2023 (as reported in industry port statistics), representing the world’s largest container throughput by country.
02
The global seaborne trade market (all cargo types) was estimated at about 12.1 billion tonnes in 2023, indicating the large underlying throughput base for shipping services.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With China alone moving 321 million TEU in 2023 and global seaborne trade reaching about 12.1 billion tonnes, the market size for the ship industry is clearly huge and still expanding on a massive throughput base.
05 · Category
Performance Metrics5 stats
01
In 2023, the global average speed of container vessels on major tradelanes was reported at roughly 13–14 knots (industry monitoring), affecting fuel consumption and capacity utilization.
02
Dry bulk voyage efficiency improved by about 2%–4% in 2023 according to market analytics (measured as tonne-miles per vessel day), showing better throughput per unit time.
03
In 2023, average fuel consumption for LNG carriers was reported in the low double-digit grams per kWh range in industry studies for modern propulsion systems, highlighting efficiency at the system level.
04
The world container fleet utilization (operational) averaged around 85%–88% during 2023 on major services (industry estimates), reflecting balance between supply and demand.
05
In 2024, port call turnaround improvements of 5%–15% were reported by terminals using appointment systems and enhanced slot coordination (industry case studies).
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In 2023 and into 2024, performance metrics across shipping showed clear gains with container vessels running about 13 to 14 knots, dry bulk efficiency improving 2% to 4%, and LNG propulsion delivering low double digit grams per kWh, while port turnaround times also improved 5% to 15%, signaling that operational efficiency and throughput are steadily rising alongside utilization in the 85% to 88% range.
Reference
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Ship Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ship-industry-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Ship Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/ship-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Ship Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/ship-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)