Container lines recorded 208 billion dollars in profits. The global merchant fleet totals 2.25 billion deadweight tons. Shipping statistics clarify the revenue patterns, fleet expansion, and seafarer shortages that define current operations.
Key Takeaways
- Global shipping industry employed 1.9 million seafarers in 2022
- Global shipping GHG emissions were 1.05 billion tonnes CO2 in 2022, 2.9% of world total
- In 2022, global seaborne trade volume reached 11.03 billion tons, a 2.5% increase from 2021, driven by dry bulk and containerized cargo growth
- World container port operator throughput reached 447 million TEUs in 2022, led by COSCO at 135 million TEUs
- The world merchant fleet totaled 2.25 billion dwt as of January 2023: June 2026, up 2.9% from 2022
Global shipping volumes rebounded in recent months, showing resilient demand across key trade lanes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Economic and Employment23 stats
01
Global shipping industry employed 1.9 million seafarers in 2022
02
Freight rates for container shipping generated $256 billion revenue in 2022
03
Dry bulk freight rates averaged $18,500daily in 2022, up 20%
04
Tanker market earnings reached $40,000per day average for VLCCs in 2022
05
Container line profits hit $208 billion in 2022, 4.5x pre-pandemic average
06
Ship finance debt outstanding was $1.6 trillion in 2022
07
New shipbuilding contracts worth $149 billion in 2022
08
Demolition sales totaled 170 ships or 1.3 million dwt in 2022
09
Insurance premiums for hull coverage rose 5-10% in 2023 due to war risks
10
BIMCO reports 95% of officers and 90% of ratings shortages in 2023
11
Filipino seafarers numbered 400,000, 25% of global supply in 2022
12
Ukrainian seafarers impacted with 30,000 displaced since 2022 war
13
Global shipping contributes $150 billion to GDP annually
14
Container shipping market value $200 billion in 2023
15
Bulk shipping freight revenue $50 billion in 2022
16
Shipbuilding industry employed 1 million workers globally in 2022
17
Port sector supports 3.5 million jobs worldwide
18
Logistics costs from shipping disruptions added $200 billion globally in 2022
19
Asia-Pacific shipping market share 60% of global revenue in 2023
20
World fleet insurance market premiums $40 billion in 2022
21
Russian fleet excluded from Western finance, losing $20 billion annually
22
Crew wages averaged $2,500monthly for ratings in 2022
23
Officer salaries averaged $6,000monthly in 2022
Interpretation
Economic and Employment Interpretation
The shipping industry’s soaring pandemic profits, immense financial scale, and critical role in global trade are starkly contrasted by its acute human shortages, geopolitical fractures, and the sobering reality that the very seafarers who keep this $1.6 trillion machine afloat often earn less in a year than a single large vessel can make in a day.
02 · Category
Environmental and Sustainability20 stats
01
Global shipping GHG emissions were 1.05 billion tonnes CO2 in 2022, 2.9% of world total
02
Container ships emitted 220 million tonnes CO2 in 2022, 21% of shipping total
03
Bulk carriers responsible for 48% of shipping CO2 emissions at 500 million tonnes in 2022
04
Shipping methane emissions totaled 35 million tonnes CO2-eq in 2022, mainly LNG carriers
05
IMO targets 40% reduction in GHG intensity by 2030 from 2008 levels
06
Zero-emission vessel capacity ordered reached 7 million dwt by end 2022
07
Green methanol orders for 67 ships totaling 2 million tonnes capacity in 2022
08
EU ETS covers 50% of ship CO2 emissions from 2024
09
Ship energy efficiency index (EEXI) compliance required for 60,000+ vessels by 2023
10
Ballast water management systems installed on 90% of fleet by 2023
11
Slow steaming reduced fuel use by 10-15% on major routes in 2022
12
Wind-assisted propulsion ordered for 20 ships totaling 1 million dwt in 2022
13
Shipping NOx emissions estimated at 12 million tonnes in 2022
14
SOx emissions cut 75% since 2015 due to 0.5% fuel cap in ECAs
15
Biofuel bunkering volumes reached 4 million tonnes in 2022, up 40%
16
Global shipping black carbon emissions 1.1 million tonnes in 2022
17
IMO net-zero emissions target by or around 2050 endorsed in 2023
18
15% of newbuilds in 2022 were alternative fuel capable
19
Arctic shipping distances increased 27% since 2013 due to melting ice
20
Port reception facilities for waste handled 35 million tonnes in 2022
Interpretation
Environmental and Sustainability Interpretation
The shipping industry, a titanic contributor of over a billion tonnes of CO₂, is now attempting a U-turn with a slow but measurable flurry of green orders, efficiency mandates, and alternative fuels, all while racing against a melting Arctic clock and its own enormous carbon wake.
03 · Category
Global Trade and Volume30 stats
01
In 2022, global seaborne trade volume reached 11.03 billion tons, a 2.5% increase from 2021, driven by dry bulk and containerized cargo growth
02
Containerized trade accounted for 1.91 billion tons in 2022, representing 17.4% of total seaborne trade but 42% by value
03
Dry bulk cargo volume grew by 3.1% to 5.24 billion tons in 2022, led by iron ore and coal shipments
04
Major dry bulk trades like iron ore reached 1.49 billion tons in 2022, with Brazil and Australia as top exporters
05
Global container throughput at ports hit 844 million TEUs in 2022, up 1.6% despite supply chain disruptions
06
Asia accounted for 62% of global container port throughput with 523 million TEUs in 2022
07
In 2023, world merchandise trade by sea was projected to grow by 2.4% to over 11.3 billion tons
08
LNG seaborne trade volume surged 6.5% to 264 million tons in 2022
09
Crude oil tanker cargoes declined 4.2% to 1.97 billion tons in 2022 amid high prices
10
Grain trade by sea increased 4.8% to 602 million tons in 2022
11
Container freight rates on Asia-Europe route averaged $6,062per TEU in 2022, down from 2021 peak
12
Bauxite/alumina trade volume rose 2.4% to 148 million tons in 2022
13
Global seaborne trade is expected to reach 12.5 billion tons by 2028, growing at 2.1% CAGR
14
In 2022, China handled 296 million TEUs, 35% of global container trade
15
World container shipping volumes grew 3.5% year-on-year in Q1 2024 to 48.2 million TEU
16
Dry bulk carriers transported 5.3 billion tons in 2023
17
Tanker market saw 3.1 billion tons of oil products shipped in 2022
18
Phosphate rock and fertilizers trade hit 77 million tons in 2022, up 5%
19
Global maritime trade value exceeded $14 trillion in 2022, 80% of world trade by volume
20
Container ship capacity grew 10% to 3 million TEU in 2022
21
Iron ore seaborne trade from Australia was 900 million tons in 2022
22
Coal exports by sea totaled 1.05 billion tons in 2022
23
Global port container calls numbered 142,000 in 2022
24
Seaborne trade growth slowed to 1.9% in 2023 due to Red Sea disruptions
25
Latin America container throughput rose 4.2% to 13.5 million TEUs in 2022
26
Africa handled 19 million TEUs in 2022, up 5.1%
27
Europe container port calls increased 2.7% to 38,500 in 2022
28
North America container throughput grew 2.3% to 61 million TEUs in 2022
29
Oceania ports handled 12 million TEUs in 2022
30
Middle East container throughput up 7.5% to 28 million TEUs in 2022
Interpretation
Global Trade and Volume Interpretation
Despite the container ships' triumphant blare as they shouldered a record 11 billion tons, it was the humble dry bulkers, carrying the literal building blocks of the modern world, that truly kept the global economic engine stoked and stocked in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Ports and Terminals24 stats
01
World container port operator throughput reached 447 million TEUs in 2022, led by COSCO at 135 million TEUs
02
Shanghai port handled 47.3 million TEUs in 2022, world's busiest container port
03
Singapore port throughput was 37.2 million TEUs in 2022, second globally
04
Ningbo-Zhoushan port managed 33.4 million TEUs in 2022
05
Shenzhen port throughput hit 30.4 million TEUs in 2022
06
Global port development investment needed $203 billion from 2022-2026 for expansion
07
Container crane capacity at ports reached 2.1 million TEU/hour globally in 2022
08
Average container vessel size at berth increased to 11,000 TEU in 2022
09
Port turnaround time for container ships averaged 1.1 days in developed markets in 2022
10
Busan port (Korea) handled 22.8 million TEUs in 2022
11
Hong Kong port throughput was 14.3 million TEUs in 2022, down 7%
12
Antwerp-Bruges port managed 12.5 million TEUs in 2022
13
Los Angeles port handled 9.9 million TEUs in 2022
14
Rotterdam port throughput was 13.7 million TEUs in 2022
15
Top 20 ports handled 42% of global container traffic in 2022
16
Developing country ports share of container traffic was 59% in 2022
17
Africa port container crane index rose 20% from 2018-2022
18
Latin America average vessel size at berth up 15% to 8,500 TEU in 2022
19
Global LNG terminal capacity reached 1.1 billion cbm in 2022
20
Container terminal productivity averaged 320 moves per crane hour in top Asian ports in 2022
21
World's busiest port by cargo tonnage was Ningbo-Zhoushan with 1.22 billion tons in 2022
22
Shanghai port total cargo 49.1 billion tons in 2022
23
Port of Rotterdam handled 467 million tons of cargo in 2022
24
Long Beach port (USA) throughput 9.1 million TEUs in 2022
Interpretation
Ports and Terminals Interpretation
While China continues to dominate global trade by moving staggering amounts of boxes through its ports, the rest of the world is scrambling to invest billions just to keep up and avoid becoming a forgotten berth in the shipping lane.
05 · Category
Shipping Fleet and Vessels27 stats
01
The world merchant fleet totaled 2.25 billion dwt as of January 2023: June 2026, up 2.9% from 2022
02
Container ships made up 15.4% of fleet capacity at 346 million dwt in 2023
03
Dry bulk carriers comprised 44.6% of global fleet at 1.01 billion dwt in 2023
04
Oil tankers represented 13.1% of fleet with 295 million dwt in 2023
05
LNG carriers numbered 640 vessels with 40 million cbm capacity in 2023, up 5.8%
06
Average age of global fleet was 12.4 years in 2023, with tankers oldest at 14.3 years
07
China owned 48.6% of global tonnage ordered in 2022 at 25.8 million CGT
08
New container ship orders totaled 8.3 million TEU in 2022, 42% of existing fleet
09
Fleet utilization for container ships was 88% in 2022
10
World fleet growth slowed to 3.4% in 2023 from 4.8% in 2022
11
Greek-owned fleet was largest at 364 million dwt in 2023, 16% of world total
12
Japanese-owned tonnage reached 246 million dwt, second largest in 2023
13
China-flagged fleet grew 6.2% to 302 million dwt in 2023
14
Liberia flag held 16.8% of world fleet at 378 million dwt in 2023
15
Over 50% of fleet capacity delivered between 2008-2023 is expected to be scrapped by 2028
16
Containership fleet average size increased to 4,249 TEU per ship in 2023
17
Global containership fleet numbered 6,645 vessels in 2023
18
Bulk carrier fleet totaled 13,200 vessels with 950 million dwt in 2023
19
LPG carrier fleet grew to 320 vessels in 2023, capacity 12 million cbm
20
Ro-Ro fleet capacity was 46 million lane meters in 2023
21
Chemical tanker fleet numbered 6,100 vessels at 50 million dwt in 2023
22
Fleet productivity measured by ton-miles grew 4.2% in 2022
23
Panama flag vessels totaled 8,200 ships with 352 million dwt in 2023
24
Marshall Islands flag had 2,800 vessels at 190 million dwt in 2023
25
Singapore flag fleet was 2,700 ships with 154 million dwt in 2023
26
Malta flag held 2,500 vessels at 110 million dwt in 2023
27
Hong Kong (China) owned 170 million dwt in 2023, fifth largest
Interpretation
Shipping Fleet and Vessels Interpretation
Despite humanity's digital dreams, the arteries of our physical world remain stubbornly dependent on an aging, ever-expanding, and geopolitically intricate fleet of ships, where China's shipyards and Greece's owners quietly command the seas that carry our stuff.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Shipping Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/shipping-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Shipping Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/shipping-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Shipping Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/shipping-statistics.
Sources & references
7 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level