CompareMarketResearchRequest a sample
Home / Services and Utilities / Freight Forwarding

Services and Utilities · Market report

Freight Forwarding Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global freight forwarding market is worth USD 274 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 460 bn by 2036, growing at a 5.3% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Ocean freight forwarding is the largest by mode segment.

USD 274 bnMarket size 2026
USD 460 bnForecast 2036
5.3%CAGR 2026-2036
ChinaLargest country

Request a free sample Jump to the forecast

Report price: Starts from USD 1,999

5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global freight forwarding market is worth USD 274 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 460 bn by 2036, growing at a 5.3% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Ocean freight forwarding is the largest by mode segment.

ScopeFees earned by freight forwarders for arranging air, ocean, road and rail transport and related customs, warehousing and documentation for shippers.
IndustryServices and Utilities
Value 2025USD 260 bn
Value 2026USD 274 bn
Value 2036USD 460 bn
CAGR 2026-20365.3%
Volume 2026434 million shipments
Volume 2036597 million shipments
Average price 2026USD 631 per shipment
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

Request a free sample of this report

Freight Forwarding market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global freight forwarding market is forecast to grow from USD 274 bn in 2026 to USD 460 bn by 2036, a rise of 68%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 5.3%
Freight Forwarding market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 260 bn; 2026: USD 274 bn; 2027: USD 289 bn; 2028: USD 304 bn; 2029: USD 320 bn; 2030: USD 337 bn; 2031: USD 355 bn; 2032: USD 374 bn; 2033: USD 394 bn; 2034: USD 415 bn; 2035: USD 437 bn; 2036: USD 460 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 5.3%.2025274 bn2026355 bn2031460 bn20365.3% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 274 bn
2027USD 289 bn
2028USD 304 bn
2029USD 320 bn
2030USD 337 bn
2031USD 355 bn
2032USD 374 bn
2033USD 394 bn
2034USD 415 bn
2035USD 437 bn
2036USD 460 bn

Freight Forwarding market segmentation

By mode

Exhibit 2Ocean freight forwarding is the largest segment by mode, with 44.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by mode
Freight Forwarding market share by mode, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by mode. Ocean freight forwarding: 44.0%; Air freight forwarding: 28.0%; Road and rail forwarding: 20.0%; Multimodal and project: 8.0%.Ocean freight forwarding44.0%Air freight forwarding28.0%Road and rail forwarding20.0%Multimodal and project8.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Ocean freight forwarding44.0%42.7%USD 121 bn5.0%
Air freight forwarding28.0%29.3%USD 76.8 bn5.8%
Road and rail forwarding20.0%19.4%USD 54.9 bn5.0%
Multimodal and project8.0%8.5%USD 21.9 bn6.0%

By end use

Exhibit 3Retail and consumer goods adds the most revenue by end use, growing from USD 76.8 bn in 2026 to USD 128 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by end use, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Freight Forwarding market by end use, 2026 and 2036Revenue by end use in 2026 and 2036. Industrial and others: USD 82.3 bn in 2026, USD 134 bn in 2036, change +62%; Retail and consumer goods: USD 76.8 bn in 2026, USD 128 bn in 2036, change +67%; Technology and electronics: USD 49.4 bn in 2026, USD 86.5 bn in 2036, change +75%; Automotive: USD 38.4 bn in 2026, USD 58.4 bn in 2036, change +52%; Healthcare and pharma: USD 27.4 bn in 2026, USD 52.8 bn in 2036, change +92%.20262036 forecastChangeIndustrial and others+62%82.3 bn134 bnRetail and consumer goods+67%76.8 bn128 bnTechnology and electronics+75%49.4 bn86.5 bnAutomotive+52%38.4 bn58.4 bnHealthcare and pharma+92%27.4 bn52.8 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Retail and consumer goods28.0%27.9%USD 76.8 bn5.3%
Automotive14.0%12.7%USD 38.4 bn4.3%
Technology and electronics18.0%18.8%USD 49.4 bn5.8%
Healthcare and pharma10.0%11.5%USD 27.4 bn6.8%
Industrial and others30.0%29.1%USD 82.3 bn5.0%

By provider type

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Global forwarders44.0%41.0%USD 121 bn4.6%
Regional asset-light forwarders38.0%37.0%USD 104 bn5.0%
Digital forwarders18.0%22.0%USD 49.4 bn7.4%

By shipment load

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Full container and truck load48.0%46.0%USD 132 bn4.8%
Consolidated and part load34.0%33.0%USD 93.3 bn5.0%
Bulk and project cargo18.0%21.0%USD 49.4 bn6.9%

By service component

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Transport booking and carriage58.0%53.0%USD 159 bn4.3%
Customs and documentation17.0%17.0%USD 46.6 bn5.3%
Warehousing and value-added15.0%17.0%USD 41.1 bn6.6%
Insurance and other10.0%13.0%USD 27.4 bn8.1%

Top 25 countries for freight forwarding by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 76.5% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 92.7%.

Exhibit 4China is the largest country market at USD 60.3 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 48.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Freight Forwarding market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. China: USD 60.3 bn, 22.0%; United States: USD 49.4 bn, 18.0%; Germany: USD 21.9 bn, 8.0%; Japan: USD 13.7 bn, 5.0%; United Kingdom: USD 12.3 bn, 4.5%; Netherlands: USD 11.0 bn, 4.0%; South Korea: USD 11.0 bn, 4.0%; India: USD 11.0 bn, 4.0%; Singapore: USD 9.6 bn, 3.5%; France: USD 9.6 bn, 3.5%.China60.3 bn 22.0%United States49.4 bn 18.0%Germany21.9 bn 8.0%Japan13.7 bn 5.0%United Kingdom12.3 bn 4.5%Netherlands11.0 bn 4.0%South Korea11.0 bn 4.0%India11.0 bn 4.0%Singapore9.6 bn 3.5%France9.6 bn 3.5%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1ChinaUSD 60.3 bn22.0%USD 105 bn5.7%
2United StatesUSD 49.4 bn18.0%USD 80.9 bn5.1%
3GermanyUSD 21.9 bn8.0%USD 33.1 bn4.2%
4JapanUSD 13.7 bn5.0%USD 19.8 bn3.7%
5United KingdomUSD 12.3 bn4.5%USD 18.8 bn4.3%
6NetherlandsUSD 11.0 bn4.0%USD 17.5 bn4.8%
7South KoreaUSD 11.0 bn4.0%USD 18.4 bn5.3%
8IndiaUSD 11.0 bn4.0%USD 24.4 bn8.3%
9SingaporeUSD 9.6 bn3.5%USD 16.6 bn5.6%
10FranceUSD 9.6 bn3.5%USD 14.7 bn4.4%
11ItalyUSD 9.1 bn3.3%USD 15.2 bn5.2%
12SpainUSD 7.3 bn2.7%USD 12.2 bn5.2%
13BelgiumUSD 5.9 bn2.1%USD 9.8 bn5.2%
14Hong KongUSD 4.7 bn1.7%USD 7.9 bn5.2%
15CanadaUSD 3.8 bn1.4%USD 6.3 bn5.2%
16United Arab EmiratesUSD 3.0 bn1.1%USD 6.2 bn7.4%
17AustraliaUSD 2.4 bn0.9%USD 4.0 bn5.2%
18BrazilUSD 1.9 bn0.7%USD 4.0 bn7.3%
19TaiwanUSD 1.6 bn0.6%USD 2.6 bn5.3%
20TurkeyUSD 1.3 bn0.5%USD 2.5 bn7.2%
21MexicoUSD 1.0 bn0.4%USD 2.0 bn7.1%
22ThailandUSD 795 mn0.3%USD 1.7 bn7.6%
23VietnamUSD 658 mn0.2%USD 1.5 bn8.7%
24PolandUSD 521 mn0.2%USD 874 mn5.3%
25SwitzerlandUSD 411 mn0.1%USD 690 mn5.3%
Rest of worldUSD 20.0 bn7.3%USD 33.0 bn5.1%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 41% of the USD 185 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Freight Forwarding market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 274 bn. China: +USD 44.9 bn; United States: +USD 31.5 bn; India: +USD 13.4 bn; Germany: +USD 11.2 bn; South Korea: +USD 7.4 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 64.1 bn; Rest of world: +USD 12.9 bn. Market value 2036: USD 460 bn.Market value 2026274 bnChina+44.9 bnUnited States+31.5 bnIndia+13.4 bnGermany+11.2 bnSouth Korea+7.4 bn20 other countries+64.1 bnRest of world+12.9 bnMarket value 2036460 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • DSV
  • Kuehne+Nagel
  • DHL Global Forwarding
  • Sinotrans
  • CEVA Logistics
  • Expeditors
  • UPS Supply Chain Solutions
  • Maersk

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • C.H. Robinson
  • Nippon Express
  • Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
  • Agility
  • Dachser
  • Yusen Logistics
  • Kintetsu World Express
  • Geodis
  • Toll Group
  • Pantos Logistics

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Flexport
  • Kerry Logistics
  • Forto
  • Hecny Group
  • Dimerco
  • Savino Del Bene

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the freight forwarding market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 5.3% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by mode, by end use, by provider type, by shipment load, by service component. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the freight forwarding market?

The global freight forwarding market is estimated at USD 260 bn in 2025 and USD 274 bn in 2026.

How fast will the freight forwarding market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 460 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 5.3% from 2026, an increase of USD 185 bn.

Which country is the largest market for freight forwarding?

China is the largest market by revenue at USD 60.3 bn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 48.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 8.3% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which freight forwarding segment is largest?

In the by mode split, Ocean freight forwarding is the largest segment with 44.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading freight forwarding companies?

Global leaders include DSV, Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Global Forwarding, Sinotrans.

Need the full report?

Request a sample to see the structure, tables and country detail.

Request a free sample

Related markets in Services and Utilities

← Fourth Party Logistics Freight Transport →

All Services and Utilities markets →

Request a sample