Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £6.9bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic reshapes cargo freight patterns
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains, causing significant drops in demand from oil companies, freight forwarders and manufacturers.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Constrained economic conditions will continue to weigh on freight volumes
- Although inflation is falling in 2024-25, customers will still feel lingering income pressures as global supply chains are expected to become more strained from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. As a result, budgets will remain tight, adversely impacting freight order volumes.
Biggest companies in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transporting liquid-bulk products, Transporting dry-bulk products and Transporting containers. Transporting liquid-bulk products is the largest segment of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Rising energy consumption fuels demand for liquid-bulk products
- Liquid-bulk refers to any liquid or liquid gas, like oil, chemicals or liquefied natural gas (LNG), that’s transported in a specialised tank. The size of ships and their load-carrying potential make it much more efficient to transport liquids by ship than by road or rail.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry transport bulk and non-bulk freight on vessels designed for the open sea or coastal waters. The industry includes scheduled and unscheduled activities, towing barges and oil rigs, and renting vessels with crew for sea transport.
What's included in this industry?
Transporting liquid-bulk productsTransporting containersTransporting dry-bulk productsTransporting other general cargoCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
20-FOOT EQUIVALENT UNIT (TEU)DRY BULKSHORT-SEA SHIPPINGDEEP-SEA SHIPPINGFREIGHT RATECARRIER BUNKER CHARGESIndustry Code
SIC 50.20 - Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Supply chain disruptions shake up the water freight industry. Geopolitical issues and the lingering effects of the pandemic have led to supply chain disruptions and increased...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
E-commerce drives up retailers’ freight needs. The surge in online shopping during the COVID-19 lockdowns caused demand for water freight transport services from retailers an...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
London's ports draw freight water companies in. The volume of traffic, alongside London's robust economy, provides ample business opportunities, causing freight water establi...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Pricing determines freight water companies’ competitiveness. Market overcapacity means companies vie fiercely for customers, trying to draw them in with lower rates.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Evergreen’s global network helps it dominate the market. As part of the extensive Evergreen Group and the Ocean Alliance, it holds a huge capacity and benefits from optimal p...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
MARPOL curbs emissions from freight water companies. It outlines stringent rules focusing on the reduction of sulphur oxides and nitrous oxides released from ships.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Supply chain disruptions and oil price hikes threaten profitability. Fluctuations in oil prices and freight rates, partly driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have dented f...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £6.9bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 625 businesses in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What does the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Transporting liquid-bulk products and Transporting containers are part of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry.
How competitive is the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Aircraft, Engine & Parts Manufacturing in the UK
- Freight Air Transport in the UK
- Freight Rail Transport in the UK
- Freight Road Transport in the UK
Complementors
- Boat Repair & Maintenance in the UK
- Shipbuilding in the UK
International industries
- Global Deep-Sea, Coastal & Inland Water Transportation
- Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US
- Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada
- Water Freight Transport in Australia
- Water Freight Transport in New Zealand
View all industries in United Kingdom
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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