APO RESEARCH · REPORT
Ocean Freight Forwarding
An ocean freight forwarder is an individual or company that acts as an intermediary and dispatches shipments via common sea carriers and makes all arrangements for those shipments on behalf of its clients. Ocean freight forwarders handle all the logistics needed and performs related activities pertaining to shipments.
Product & engineering
Understand the product.
An ocean freight forwarder is an individual or company that acts as an intermediary and dispatches shipments via common sea carriers and makes all arrangements for those shipments on behalf of its clients. Ocean freight forwarders handle all the logistics needed and performs related activities pertaining to shipments.
Selected research
Industry Research
Ocean Freight Forwarding Industry Research Report 2026
Market perspective
An ocean freight forwarder is an individual or company that acts as an intermediary and dispatches shipments via common sea carriers and makes all arrangements for those shipments on behalf of its clients. Ocean freight forwarders handle all the logistics needed and performs related activities pertaining to shipments.
Global Ocean Freight Forwarding key players include Kuehne + Nagel, DHL Group, DB Schenker Logistics, GEODIS, etc. Global top four manufacturers hold a share nearly 20%.
China is the largest market, with a share about 25%, followed by Europe, and North America, both have a share about 40 percent.
Read the full market overview
In terms of product, LCL is the largest segment, with a share about 55%. And in terms of application, the largest application is Electronic, followed by Automotive, Beverage, Agricultural, etc.
Report Scope
This report quantifies the global Ocean Freight Forwarding market in terms of revenue (US$ million) and, where applicable, service volume (K Units), using 2024 as the base year and providing annual historical and forecast data for 2021–2032.
It standardizes definitions of service Types and end-use Applications, harmonizes provider attribution, and delivers comparable time series by company, Type, Application, and region or country, including indicative price bands (US$/K Units) and concentration ratios (CR5/CR10). Outputs are intended to support service design, budgeting, capacity planning, and benchmarking for providers, platforms, channel partners, and investors; the report also reviews technology shifts and notable service innovations relevant to Ocean Freight Forwarding.
Key Companies & Market Share Insights
This section profiles leading service providers with 2021–2025 results and a 2026–2032 outlook—covering revenue, market share, price bands, service portfolio and client mix, regional and channel mix, and key developments (M&A, network expansion, certifications). It also provides global revenue, average price, and—where applicable—volume metrics by provider, and calculates CR5/CR10 and rank changes to support comparative benchmarking.
Ocean Freight Forwarding Market by Company
Kuehne + Nagel
DHL Group
DB Schenker Logistics
GEODIS
Panalpina
DSV
Bolloré Logistics
Expeditors
Nippon Express
CEVA Logistics
Pantos Logistics
Agility Logistics
Hellmann
Damco
KWE
Hitachi Transport
Sankyu
Kerry Logistics
Logwin
C.H.Robinson
Yusen Logistics
Ocean Freight Forwarding Segment by Type
LCL
FCL
Others
Ocean Freight Forwarding Segment by Application
Agricultural
Automotive
Beverage
Electronic
Others
Ocean Freight Forwarding Segment by Region
North America
United States
Canada
Mexico
Europe
Germany
France
U.K.
Italy
Spain
Russia
Netherlands
Nordic Countries
Asia-Pacific
China
Japan
South Korea
India
Australia
Taiwan
Southeast Asia
South America
Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
Israel
United Arab Emirates
Turkey
Iran
Egypt
Key Drivers & Barriers
High-impact rendering factors and drivers have been studied in this report to aid the readers to understand the general development. Moreover, the report includes restraints and challenges that may act as stumbling blocks on the way of the players. This will assist the users to be attentive and make informed decisions related to business. Specialists have also laid their focus on the upcoming business prospects.
Reasons to Buy This Report
1. This report will help the readers to understand the competition within the industries and strategies for the competitive environment to enhance the potential profit. The report also focuses on the competitive landscape of the global Ocean Freight Forwarding market, and introduces in detail the market share, industry ranking, competitor ecosystem, market performance, new product development, operation situation, expansion, and acquisition. etc. of the main players, which helps the readers to identify the main competitors and deeply understand the competition pattern of the market.
2. This report will help stakeholders to understand the global industry status and trends of Ocean Freight Forwarding and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.
3. This report will help stakeholders to understand competitors better and gain more insights to strengthen their position in their businesses. The competitive landscape section includes the market share and rank (in volume and value), competitor ecosystem, new product development, expansion, and acquisition.
4. This report stays updated with novel technology integration, features, and the latest developments in the market
5. This report helps stakeholders to gain insights into which regions to target globally
6. This report helps stakeholders to gain insights into the end-user perception concerning the adoption of Ocean Freight Forwarding.
7. This report helps stakeholders to identify some of the key players in the market and understand their valuable contribution.
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Research objectives, research methods, data sources, data cross-validation;
Chapter 2: Introduces the report scope of the report, executive summary of different market segments (product type, application, etc), including the market size of each market segment, future development potential, and so on. It offers a high-level view of the current state of the market and its likely evolution in the short to mid-term, and long term.
Chapter 3: Provides the analysis of various market segments product types, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different market segments.
Chapter 4: Provides the analysis of various market segments application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the blue ocean market in different downstream markets.
Chapter 5: Introduces executive summary of global market size, regional market size, this section also introduces the market dynamics, latest developments of the market, the driving factors and restrictive factors of the market, the challenges and risks faced by companies in the industry, and the analysis of relevant policies in the industry.
Chapter 6: Detailed analysis of Ocean Freight Forwarding companies’ competitive landscape, revenue market share, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information, etc.
Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10, 11: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa segment by country. It provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and its main countries and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and capacity of each country in the world.
Chapter 12: Provides profiles of key players, introducing the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including revenue, gross margin, product introduction, recent development, etc.
Chapter 13: The main points and conclusions of the report.
More report detail
Tables and figures
Scope & coverage.
Types
- LCL
- FCL
- Others
Applications
- Agricultural
- Automotive
- Beverage
- Electronic
- Others
Companies covered
- Kuehne + Nagel
- DHL Group
- DB Schenker Logistics
- GEODIS
- Panalpina
- DSV
- Bolloré Logistics
- Expeditors
- Nippon Express
- CEVA Logistics
- Pantos Logistics
- Agility Logistics
- Hellmann
- Damco
- KWE
- Hitachi Transport
- Sankyu
- Kerry Logistics
- Logwin
- C.H.Robinson
- Yusen Logistics
Inside the report.
1 Preface
- 1.1 Scope of Report
- 1.2 Reasons for Doing This Study
- 1.3 Research Methodology
- 1.4 Research Process
- 1.5 Data Source
- 1.5.1 Secondary Sources
- 1.5.2 Primary Sources
2 Market Overview
- 2.1 Product Definition
- 2.2 Ocean Freight Forwarding by Type
- 2.2.1 Market Value Comparison by Type (2021 VS 2025 VS 2032)
- 2.2.2 LCL
- 2.2.3 FCL
- 2.2.4 Others
- 2.3 Ocean Freight Forwarding by Application
- 2.3.1 Market Value Comparison by Application (2021 VS 2025 VS 2032)
- 2.3.2 Agricultural
- 2.3.3 Automotive
- 2.3.4 Beverage
- 2.3.5 Electronic
- 2.3.6 Others
- 2.4 Assumptions and Limitations
3 Ocean Freight Forwarding Breakdown Data by Type
- 3.1 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Historic Market Size by Type (2021-2026)
- 3.2 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Forecasted Market Size by Type (2027-2032)
4 Ocean Freight Forwarding Breakdown Data by Application
- 4.1 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Historic Market Size by Application (2021-2026)
- 4.2 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Forecasted Market Size by Application (2027-2032)
5 Global Growth Trends
- 5.1 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Perspective (2021-2032)
- 5.2 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Growth Trends by Region
- 5.2.1 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Region: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 5.2.2 Ocean Freight Forwarding Historic Market Size by Region (2021-2026)
- 5.2.3 Ocean Freight Forwarding Forecasted Market Size by Region (2027-2032)
- 5.3 Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Dynamics
- 5.3.1 Ocean Freight Forwarding Industry Trends
- 5.3.2 Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Drivers
- 5.3.3 Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Challenges
- 5.3.4 Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Restraints
6 Market Competitive Landscape by Players
- 6.1 Global Top Ocean Freight Forwarding Players by Revenue
- 6.1.1 Global Top Ocean Freight Forwarding Players by Revenue (2021-2026)
- 6.1.2 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Revenue Market Share by Players (2021-2026)
- 6.2 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Industry Players Ranking, 2023 VS 2024 VS 2025
- 6.3 Global Key Players of Ocean Freight Forwarding Head Office and Area Served
- 6.4 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Players, Product Type & Application
- 6.5 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Manufacturers Established Date
- 6.6 Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Market CR5 and HHI
- 6.7 Global Players Mergers & Acquisition
7 North America
- 7.1 North America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size (2021-2032)
- 7.2 North America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Growth Rate by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 7.3 North America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2021-2026)
- 7.4 North America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2027-2032)
- 7.5 United States
- 7.5 United States
- 7.6 Canada
- 7.7 Mexico
8 Europe
- 8.1 Europe Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size (2021-2032)
- 8.2 Europe Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Growth Rate by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 8.3 Europe Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2021-2026)
- 8.4 Europe Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2027-2032)
- 8.5 Germany
- 8.6 France
- 8.7 U.K.
- 8.8 Italy
- 8.9 Spain
- 8.10 Russia
- 8.11 Netherlands
- 8.12 Nordic Countries
9 Asia-Pacific
- 9.1 Asia-Pacific Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size (2021-2032)
- 9.2 Asia-Pacific Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Growth Rate by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 9.3 Asia-Pacific Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2021-2026)
- 9.4 Asia-Pacific Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2027-2032)
- 9.5 China
- 9.6 Japan
- 9.7 South Korea
- 9.8 India
- 9.9 Australia
- 9.10 China Taiwan
- 9.11 Southeast Asia
10 South America
- 10.1 South America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size (2021-2032)
- 10.2 South America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Growth Rate by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 10.3 South America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2021-2026)
- 10.4 South America Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2027-2032)
- 10.5 Brazil
- 10.6 Argentina
- 10.7 Chile
- 10.8 Colombia
- 10.9 Peru
11 Middle East & Africa
- 11.1 Middle East & Africa Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size (2021-2032)
- 11.2 Middle East & Africa Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Growth Rate by Country: 2021 VS 2025 VS 2032
- 11.3 Middle East & Africa Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2021-2026)
- 11.4 Middle East & Africa Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size by Country (2027-2032)
- 11.5 Saudi Arabia
- 11.6 Israel
- 11.7 United Arab Emirates
- 11.8 Turkey
- 11.9 Iran
- 11.10 Egypt
12 Players Profiled
- 12.1 Kuehne + Nagel
- 12.1.1 Kuehne + Nagel Company Information
- 12.1.2 Kuehne + Nagel Business Overview
- 12.1.3 Kuehne + Nagel Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.1.4 Kuehne + Nagel Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.1.5 Kuehne + Nagel Recent Developments
- 12.2 DHL Group
- 12.2.1 DHL Group Company Information
- 12.2.2 DHL Group Business Overview
- 12.2.3 DHL Group Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.2.4 DHL Group Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.2.5 DHL Group Recent Developments
- 12.3 DB Schenker Logistics
- 12.3.1 DB Schenker Logistics Company Information
- 12.3.2 DB Schenker Logistics Business Overview
- 12.3.3 DB Schenker Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.3.4 DB Schenker Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.3.5 DB Schenker Logistics Recent Developments
- 12.4 GEODIS
- 12.4.1 GEODIS Company Information
- 12.4.2 GEODIS Business Overview
- 12.4.3 GEODIS Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.4.4 GEODIS Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.4.5 GEODIS Recent Developments
- 12.5 Panalpina
- 12.5.1 Panalpina Company Information
- 12.5.2 Panalpina Business Overview
- 12.5.3 Panalpina Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.5.4 Panalpina Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.5.5 Panalpina Recent Developments
- 12.6 DSV
- 12.6.1 DSV Company Information
- 12.6.2 DSV Business Overview
- 12.6.3 DSV Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.6.4 DSV Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.6.5 DSV Recent Developments
- 12.7 Bolloré Logistics
- 12.7.1 Bolloré Logistics Company Information
- 12.7.2 Bolloré Logistics Business Overview
- 12.7.3 Bolloré Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.7.4 Bolloré Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.7.5 Bolloré Logistics Recent Developments
- 12.8 Expeditors
- 12.8.1 Expeditors Company Information
- 12.8.2 Expeditors Business Overview
- 12.8.3 Expeditors Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.8.4 Expeditors Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.8.5 Expeditors Recent Developments
- 12.9 Nippon Express
- 12.9.1 Nippon Express Company Information
- 12.9.2 Nippon Express Business Overview
- 12.9.3 Nippon Express Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.9.4 Nippon Express Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.9.5 Nippon Express Recent Developments
- 12.10 CEVA Logistics
- 12.10.1 CEVA Logistics Company Information
- 12.10.2 CEVA Logistics Business Overview
- 12.10.3 CEVA Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.10.4 CEVA Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.10.5 CEVA Logistics Recent Developments
- 12.11 Pantos Logistics
- 12.11.1 Pantos Logistics Company Information
- 12.11.2 Pantos Logistics Business Overview
- 12.11.3 Pantos Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.11.4 Pantos Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.11.5 Pantos Logistics Recent Developments
- 12.12 Agility Logistics
- 12.12.1 Agility Logistics Company Information
- 12.12.2 Agility Logistics Business Overview
- 12.12.3 Agility Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.12.4 Agility Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.12.5 Agility Logistics Recent Developments
- 12.13 Hellmann
- 12.13.1 Hellmann Company Information
- 12.13.2 Hellmann Business Overview
- 12.13.3 Hellmann Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.13.4 Hellmann Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.13.5 Hellmann Recent Developments
- 12.14 Damco
- 12.14.1 Damco Company Information
- 12.14.2 Damco Business Overview
- 12.14.3 Damco Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.14.4 Damco Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.14.5 Damco Recent Developments
- 12.15 KWE
- 12.15.1 KWE Company Information
- 12.15.2 KWE Business Overview
- 12.15.3 KWE Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.15.4 KWE Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.15.5 KWE Recent Developments
- 12.16 Hitachi Transport
- 12.16.1 Hitachi Transport Company Information
- 12.16.2 Hitachi Transport Business Overview
- 12.16.3 Hitachi Transport Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.16.4 Hitachi Transport Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.16.5 Hitachi Transport Recent Developments
- 12.17 Sankyu
- 12.17.1 Sankyu Company Information
- 12.17.2 Sankyu Business Overview
- 12.17.3 Sankyu Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.17.4 Sankyu Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.17.5 Sankyu Recent Developments
- 12.18 Kerry Logistics
- 12.18.1 Kerry Logistics Company Information
- 12.18.2 Kerry Logistics Business Overview
- 12.18.3 Kerry Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.18.4 Kerry Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.18.5 Kerry Logistics Recent Developments
- 12.19 Logwin
- 12.19.1 Logwin Company Information
- 12.19.2 Logwin Business Overview
- 12.19.3 Logwin Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.19.4 Logwin Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.19.5 Logwin Recent Developments
- 12.20 C.H.Robinson
- 12.20.1 C.H.Robinson Company Information
- 12.20.2 C.H.Robinson Business Overview
- 12.20.3 C.H.Robinson Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.20.4 C.H.Robinson Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.20.5 C.H.Robinson Recent Developments
- 12.21 Yusen Logistics
- 12.21.1 Yusen Logistics Company Information
- 12.21.2 Yusen Logistics Business Overview
- 12.21.3 Yusen Logistics Revenue in Ocean Freight Forwarding Business (2021-2026)
- 12.21.4 Yusen Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Product Portfolio
- 12.21.5 Yusen Logistics Recent Developments
13 Report Conclusion
14 Disclaimer
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