Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 7.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $164.3bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Pressure from direct carrier-shipper relationships is shaping NVOCC performance amid volatile ocean rates
- In 2023, 39.0% of freight forwarders said that ocean carriers bypassing intermediaries and dealing directly with shippers was a significant challenge for their business, according to Ecu360. This was up from 32.0% in 2022, highlighting growing competition as more carriers formed direct partnerships with large shippers. Because of this, non-boat operating common carriers (NVOCCs) have increasingly found themselves serving smaller shippers who cannot access these direct services. This shift threatened the traditional role and influence of NVOCCs, pushing them closer to industry irrelevance if they could not adapt.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Evolving carrier alliances and added routes redefine freight forwarders’ opportunities and challenges
- Changes in global shipping alliances are set to reshape the industry. MSC and Maersk’s split in the 2M Alliance, effective February 2025, creates a new landscape featuring three major alliances and MSC operating independently. This realignment is expected to temporarily disrupt sailing schedules, with increased vessel diversions and route adjustments potentially reducing schedule reliability during the transition. Carriers in the trans-Pacific are weighing a potential 25.0% contract rate hike to hedge against higher costs and delays as they move through this adjustment period.
Biggest companies in the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($short_0)
2025 | Profit ($short_0)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in the US 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 Domestic freight transportation arrangement services, International freight forwarding and customs brokerage services and Non-vessel operating common carrier services. Domestic freight transportation arrangement services is the largest segment of the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in the US.
Trends and Insights
Domestic freight forwarding in the US faces reduced demand and spending
- Domestic freight transportation arrangements and forwarding services are the primary revenue sources. This segment includes all aspects of arranging the domestic transportation of goods, including all regulatory requirements and related documentation for shipments within the US. This is the largest industry segment because of the country’s large domestic consumer market. The high demand for goods to be delivered quickly across the country’s many diverse regions increases the need for forwarding services. Greater regional diversity leads to more spending within this segment.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Freight forwarding brokerages and agencies coordinate the transport of goods between shippers and carriers. These businesses, commonly referred to as freight forwarders, marine shipping agents, or customs brokers, provide services that cover various transportation modes. Although they operate as intermediaries, the cost of arranging shipments is not counted as industry revenue.
What's included in this industry?
Domestic freight transportation arrangement servicesInternational freight forwarding and customs brokerage servicesNon-vessel operating common carrier servicesStorage and distribution servicesCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
LESS-THAN-TRUCKLOAD (LTL)LESS-THAN-CONTAINER LOAD (LCL)JUST-IN-TIME (JIT)INTEGRATED LOGISTIC SERVICESIndustry Code
NAICS 48851 - Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies in the US
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
Direct carrier-shipping relationships are squeezing NVOCCs’ influence. As more ocean carriers cut out intermediaries and approach shippers directly, NVOCCs face tighter profi...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
Customs brokerage is becoming more valuable as trade rules get stricter, even as international freight forwarding growth stalls. As regulations ramp up and compliance gets to...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
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
California is the leading logistics gateway in the United States. Its large West Coast ports and proximity to Mexico and Asia make it a hub for international trade. Because o...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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
Digital solutions like Transportation Management Systems (TMS) quickly automate tasks that freight forwarders have traditionally managed. Many logistics businesses now use re...
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 2020-2025
- 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
There are no major companies in the industry. High operating costs and low profit make it difficult for companies to operate efficiently enough to dominate the market. Becaus...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
Detailed analysis
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
FEMA’s STOS program is a significant revenue source for freight forwarders hoping to secure federal disaster logistics contracts. Only pre-approved companies get access, mean...
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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
Profit have grown but now face fresh challenges. While past rate hikes let forwarders pass costs on, pressure from direct shipper-carrier deals and unpredictable spot rates i...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Industry Multiples (2018-2023)
- Industry Tax Structure (2018-2023)
- Income Statement (2018-2023)
- Balance Sheet (2018-2023)
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States in 2025?
The market size of the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States is $164.3bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 78,842 businesses in the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States?
The Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States?
The Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 7.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What does the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States include?
Domestic freight transportation arrangement services and International freight forwarding and customs brokerage services are part of the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States.
How competitive is the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Freight Forwarding Brokerages & Agencies industry in the United States.
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Competitors
Complementors
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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 US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
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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