Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 7.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €426.7m in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Easing fuel prices are boosting profitability but harming revenue
- Easing fuel prices have led to greater profits for Irish freight shippers, as lower costs directly translate to wider margins. According to Ship and Bunker, Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil bunker prices receded from over US$600 (€515.16) per tonne in 2022 to US$469.50 (€403.11) per tonne by December 2025. This reduction came as supply improved following shortages induced by the outset of the Russia-Ukraine war. An easing in this key expense has enabled shipping companies to improve their profitability over the five years through 2026.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Construction boom set to fuel demand for dry bulk transport
- Ireland's construction industry is experiencing robust growth, with the Central Statistics Office reporting an 18.1% increase in the volume of production in Building and Construction in the year to Q3 2025. This surge is largely driven by government initiatives aimed at expanding housing supply. Affordability reforms and incentives for first-time buyers have been pivotal, stimulating housing development and, in turn, significantly boosting demand for dry bulk transport of critical construction materials like cement, aggregates and timber.
Biggest companies in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in Ireland
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (€m)
2026 |
|---|---|---|
Irish Continental Group plc | 119.3 | |
Arklow Shipping Unlimited Company | 52.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Liquid bulk shipping , Container ship services and Transporting dry-bulk products. Liquid bulk shipping is the largest segment of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in Ireland.
Trends and Insights
Container shipping demand rises on strong consumer confidence and pharmaceutical output
- Container ship services have grown, evidenced by a 14% increase in lift-on/lift-off (LoLo) cargo between 2023 and 2024, as reported by the CSO. This growth aligns with the surge in Ireland’s pharmaceutical exports, which rose by 29% to €99.9 billion in 2024, according to the CSO.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in the sea and coastal freight water transport 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.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland include Liquid bulk shipping, Container ship services, Transporting dry-bulk products and General cargo services.Companies
Companies covered in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland include Irish Continental Group plc and Arklow Shipping Unlimited Company.Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland include appraisal well, deep-sea shipping, dry bulk , imo 2020 and twenty-foot equivalent unit (teu) .Industry Code
SIC 50.20 - Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in Ireland
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
Easing fuel prices are increasing profits but reducing revenues for Irish freight shippers. As companies pass on savings to stay competitive, falling freight rates are erodin...
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 (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- 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
Manufacturers are driving increased demand for water freight services to hedge against tariffs. This trend, particularly evident in the pharmaceutical sector, is experiencing...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
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
Dublin's strategic location and infrastructure make it a prime hub for shipping companies. With access to deep-water port facilities, extensive connectivity and a concentrate...
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 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2026
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
Market concentration in shipping varies with industry and investment demands. The deep-sea and hazardous product shipping markets exhibit higher concentration due to signific...
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 2021-2026
- 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
Arklow Shipping boosts growth and efficiency with modern, fuel-efficient vessels. Their fleet expansion, including new Eco Trader vessels and advanced battery-powered hybrids...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2022 through 2026
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2026
- Overview of Irish Continental Group plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
- Overview of Arklow Shipping Unlimited Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2020 through 2026
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Irish Continental Group plc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Arklow Shipping Unlimited Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Irish Maritime Development Office promotes freight water transport. Alongside marketing services, it provides freight water companies with market research, legal advice a...
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 (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
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
Increased freight volumes and lower fuel consumption enhance the profitability of maritime shipping. The industry benefits from fleet modernisation and operational efficienci...
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 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
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 (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
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 industry in Ireland in 2026?
The market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland is €426.7m in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland in 2026?
There are 134 businesses in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland?
The Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland 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 Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland?
The Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland has been declining at a CAGR of 7.9 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland?
The biggest companies operating in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland are Irish Continental Group plc and Arklow Shipping Unlimited Company
What does the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland include?
Liquid bulk shipping and Container ship services are part of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland?
The company holding the most market share in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland is Irish Continental Group plc.
How competitive is the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in Ireland.
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 Ireland include:
- Central Statistics Office
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Irish Tax & Customs
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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