Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $47.7bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Cruise lines are boosting this industry more
- The cruise lines segment has been a saving grace for this industry. This segment has been gaining attraction as many consumers are rebounding their travel activities. According to estimates from IBISWorld, total recreation expenditures scaled up by 1.7% during the period, signaling that such trends are beginning to happen.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Trade rebounds will help this industry
- Trade will be expanding. According to estimates by IBISWorld, trade value will expand by 3.2% in the period ahead. Considering that this industry relies on such activities to fuel its activities, this will be a welcome development for the period, guaranteeing that its ships will be necessary to help transport cargo in a stronger trading environment.
Biggest companies in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carnival Corporation | 10,344.4 | 1,524.4 | 14.7 | |
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd | 8,770.4 | 2,275.6 | 25.9 | |
AP Moller - Maersk Group | 7,797.0 | 774.6 | 9.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 10 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 Deep-sea passenger transportation, Deep-sea freight transportation and Coastal and Great Lakes freight transportation. Deep-sea passenger transportation is the largest segment of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US.
Trends and Insights
Deep-sea passenger transportation brings over half the industry's revenue
- This segment includes cruise ships and resort-style passenger ships that offer round-trip vacations to international destinations lasting from three days to more than three months.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry provides deep-sea, coastal and Great Lakes water transportation, including using the St. Lawrence Seaway. It encompasses US-flagged and non-US-flagged vessels, though operators must primarily be US-based. Marine transportation services active on the St. Lawrence River are part of the Great Lakes Water Transportation System and, therefore, are included in this report. The industry also provides deep-sea passenger services like cruise ships.
What's included in this industry?
Deep-sea water transportationCoastal water transportationGreat Lakes water transportationSt. Lawrence Seaway water transportationCompanies
Carnival CorporationRoyal Caribbean Cruises LtdAP Moller - Maersk GroupPurchase this report to view all 10 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
CONTAINERIZEDST. LAWRENCE SEAWAYDEADWEIGHT TONNAGECONFERENCEFLAG OF CONVENIENCETEUIndustry Code
NAICS 48311 - Ocean & Coastal Transportation 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
The industry is battling inflation by raising prices. While this strategy is working to cover rising operational costs, ongoing economic instability and supply chain hiccups ...
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
International shipping companies face fierce competition. Because of various regulations, these companies lack the same protections as domestic shippers, so they must be stra...
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
The Southeast's warm climate makes it a prime maritime hub. Its reliable weather and vigorous business activity allow the industry to have uninterrupted shipping and quality ...
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 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
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
Big names bank on brand recognition. Fresh faces will struggle to match the established reputation and economies of scale industry giants enjoy, undercutting rising companies...
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
AP Moller—Maersk Group is a major force in this industry. Having comprehensive shipping solutions that meet the high demands of international trade helps the company stay abo...
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
- Overview of Carnival Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of AP Moller - Maersk Group's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 7 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Carnival Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for AP Moller - Maersk Group, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 7 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Jones Act keeps US coastal shipping under domestic control. Mandating that domestic cargo moves on US-built and crewed ships secures maritime industry stability and secur...
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
Rising Costs Impact Profitability. Higher operational and material costs because of inflation have been cutting into industry profit. But, larger businesses like Carnival and...
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
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- 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 Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States is $47.7bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in 2024?
There are 813 businesses in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation market in United States are Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd and AP Moller - Maersk Group
What does the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US in United States include?
Deep-sea water transportation and Coastal water transportation are part of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Carnival Corporation.
How competitive is the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US industry in United States.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Inland Water Transportation in the US
- Travel Agencies in the US
- Non-Hotel Casinos in the US
- Sightseeing Transportation in the US
International industries
- Global Deep-Sea, Coastal & Inland Water Transportation
- Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada
- Water Freight Transport in Australia
- Water Freight Transport in New Zealand
- Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK
View all industries in United States
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.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
