Water Freight Transport in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: May 2024
ANZSIC I4810Revenue
$2.9bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
3,209
Businesses
358
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Water Freight Transport in Australia industry analysis
The Water Freight Transport industry represents a key link between Australia and the global economy. Most of Australia's international trade is transported by sea. Water freight transporters use domestic and international shipping routes to import and export goods through Australian waters. Bulk container ships transport large amounts of commodities, while container ships transport non-bulk goods. High water freight rates due to supply chain disruptions caused revenue to spike in 2021-22. Overall, industrywide revenue has been growing at an annualised 1.2% over the past five years and is expected to total $2.9 billion in 2023-24, when revenue falls by an estimated 10.0% as Australian freight rates continue to contract.
Trends and Insights
- Global supply chain disruptions have caused freight shipping rates to rise sharply. Inflated shipping rates have boosted profit margins and revenue in recent years.
- Bulk carrier services represent the largest portion of industry revenue. Bulk carrier services have risen as a share of revenue in recent years due to growth in the total mass of exports by sea.
- The geographical spread of industry establishments aligns with the distribution of trade and port locations. Trade activity is largely determined by population concentration, proximity to major trading markets and commodities mining.
- Internal competition is strongest on international routes, where water freight transport maintains significant advantages over alternative modes. Internal competition within the industry has intensified in recent years due to challenging global economic conditions.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.9bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Recent volatility in water freight prices has caused substantial revenue fluctuations
- Supply chain disruptions that reduced water freight capacity and soaring demand for internationally traded goods caused water freight rates to skyrocket during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Global container freight spot rates peaked at almost ten times their pre-pandemic levels in 2021-22, causing industry revenue to spike.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Normalising freight rates will cause industry revenue to contract over the short term
- Freight rates have plunged in 2023-24, but are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Freight rates are set to continue declining from their current elevated prices over the coming years, driving down industry revenue.
Biggest companies in the Water Freight Transport in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
ANL Container Line | 1,943.3 | |
Maersk Line | 551.5 | |
Teekay Shipping | 60.3 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 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 Bulk carrier services, Container ship services and General cargo services. Bulk carrier services is the largest segment of the Water Freight Transport in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Rising demand for Australian commodities has bolstered bulk carrier services
- Bulk carrier services transport bulk cargo like coal, grain or ore internationally or between domestic ports. Specialised ships like oil tankers and gas tankers are also classified as bulk carriers.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Rail, Air and Sea Freight Forwarding in Australia
Complementors
- Navigation, Towage and Services to Water Transport in Australia
- Integrated Logistics in Australia
- Port and Water Transport Terminal Operations in Australia
International industries
- Global Deep-Sea, Coastal & Inland Water Transportation
- Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US
- Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada
- Water Freight Transport in New Zealand
- Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry players operate vessels that transport freight by water. Primary activities include international sea freight transport services between domestic and international ports, coastal sea freight transport services between domestic ports, freight ferry services and harbour freight transport services. Other activities include river freight transport services, ship freight management services (operating ships on behalf of owners) and inland water freight transport services.
What's included in this industry?
Bulk carrier servicesContainer ship servicesGeneral cargo servicesCompanies
ANL Container LineMaersk LineTeekay ShippingPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
BREAK BULKCONFERENCETRIANGULAR TRADEFREEBOARDWHARFAGEIndustry Code
ANZSIC 4810 - Water Freight Transport in Australia
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
Global supply chain disruptions have caused freight shipping rates to rise sharply. Inflated shipping rates have boosted profit margins and revenue in recent years.
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
Bulk carrier services represent the largest portion of industry revenue. Bulk carrier services have risen as a share of revenue in recent years due to growth in the total mas...
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 geographical spread of industry establishments aligns with the distribution of trade and port locations. Trade activity is largely determined by population concentration,...
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 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, 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
Internal competition is strongest on international routes, where water freight transport maintains significant advantages over alternative modes. Internal competition within ...
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
ANL and Maersk are the most prominent players in the Water Freight Transport industry, and their dominance has increased in recent years. Both companies are local subsidiarie...
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 ANL Container Line's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Maersk Line's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Teekay Shipping's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for ANL Container Line, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Maersk Line, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Teekay Shipping, 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
In Australia, the Federal Government regulates the industry. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority implements the Navigation Act 2012 and the Marine Safety (Domestic Comme...
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
Most of the Water Freight Transport industry's costs are related to vessel operation and port access. These costs are significant and typically constrain profit margins acros...
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
- 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)
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 Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia is $2.9bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Water Freight Transport in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 358 businesses in the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Water Freight Transport market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Water Freight Transport market in Australia are ANL Container Line, Maersk Line and Teekay Shipping
What does the Water Freight Transport in Australia include?
Bulk carrier services and Container ship services are part of the Water Freight Transport industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Water Freight Transport in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is ANL Container Line.
How competitive is the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Water Freight Transport industry in Australia.
