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Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2028)

IBISWorld IBISWorld London, United Kingdom Last Updated: December 2024 SIC UK-H5012

Revenue

£134.9bn

2024-25

£137.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

121k

Businesses

6,055

Wages

£X.Xbn

Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry analysis

The European sea and coastal freight transport industry took a huge hit from the effects of the global pandemic and geopolitical tensions in recent years. After enjoying a period of steady growth prior to the pandemic, the industry slumped in 2020, with pandemic-induced lockdowns severely affecting demand, leading to a dramatic downturn in freight volumes. Shipping companies continue to grapple with challenges in the absence of pandemic-related restrictions, though a hefty rise in freight rates has buoyed revenue and profitability.

Trends and Insights

  • Freight rates have surged due to operational and supply chain disruption. Port congestion, a container shortage, container scarcity, and continuous COVID-related restrictions in major manufacturing and shipping hubs have spurred a spike in freight rates.
  • Europe's coal comeback has boosted dry-bulk transport volumes. The spike in natural gas prices led to an unexpected short-term increase in demand for coal for electricity generation, encouraging demand for dry bulk transport.
  • Major multinational shipping companies dominate container shipping markets. The size and scale of vessels required for container shipping ensures that only a select number of companies have the resources to conduct these operations.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom is £134.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom in 2024?

There are 6,055 businesses in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom include?

Container Shipping and Liquid Bulk Transport are part of the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Tighter emissions regulations are likely to spur increased costs for operators. The inclusion of maritime emissions in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme from January 2024 will cut into bottom lines.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Volatile oil prices have spurred profit fluctuations. Increased oil prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to a significant rise in bunker costs.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

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)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

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