Inland Water Transport Market Report 2026

The inland water transport market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $20.88 billion in 2025 to $22.2 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of inland navigation networks, availability of cost-efficient water transport, growth in inland trade volumes, government investment in waterways, development of supporting port infrastructure.

The inland water transport market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $29.14 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing emphasis on sustainable transport modes, expansion of smart inland transport systems, rising demand for low-carbon logistics, increased integration with rail and road networks, modernization of inland vessel fleets. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of freight and passenger inland transport services, expansion of multimodal waterway connectivity, growing adoption of digital navigation systems, rising focus on infrastructure modernization, increased utilization of inland waterways.

The rising industrial production index is expected to drive the expansion of the inland water transport market in the coming years. The industrial production index (IPI) is a statistical measure that quantifies the volume of goods and services produced within a country over a specific period. The IPI can be used to assess the performance of the inland water transport sector by comparing the sector-specific IPI with the overall industrial IPI. For example, in June 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Board, a US-based governing authority of the Federal Reserve System, industrial capacity grew by 1% in 2022 and by 2.3% in 2023, with an expected increase of 1.2% in 2024. Thus, a rising industrial production index supports the growth of the inland water transport market.

Major companies in the inland water transport market are prioritizing the development of green propulsion technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems, to improve environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Hydrogen fuel cell propulsion systems generate electricity from stored hydrogen through an electrochemical process, emitting only water and heat, which allows vessels to operate with zero emissions while reducing noise and enhancing overall energy efficiency. For example, in December 2025, Cochin Shipyard Limited, an India-based shipbuilding firm, introduced a hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel - a hydrogen fuel cell-driven inland watercraft designed for sustainable passenger transport. It features a low-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell, an air-conditioned cabin accommodating approximately 50 passengers, and integration with lithium iron phosphate batteries for auxiliary power. This hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel enhances environmental performance and aids in decarbonizing inland waterways by enabling zero-emission operations, although challenges related to hydrogen infrastructure availability and fuel production scalability persist.

In February 2024, Ingram Barge Company LLC (Ingram), a U.S.-based provider of inland waterway transport, acquired Inland River Transport Holdings LLC, known as SCF, for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is intended to strengthen Ingram's service offerings and operational capabilities in its expansive river transportation network. Inland River Transport Holdings LLC (SCF) is also a U.S.-based company specializing in inland river transport and logistics.

Major companies operating in the inland water transport market are Ingram Barge Company, Kirby Corporation, Canal Barge Company Inc., Marquette Transportation Company LLC, American Commercial Barge Line LLC, SEACOR Holdings Inc., Tidewater Transportation and Terminals, Bouchard Transportation Co. Inc., Campbell Transportation Company Inc., Florida Marine Transporters LLC, ACL Transportation Services, Danser Group, Groupe Charles André, Cargill Transportation, Imperial Logistics, Fospar S/A, Naviera Fluvial Paraguaya S.A., American River Transport Inc., Harbor Barge Company, McAllister Towing and Transportation, Kirby Inland Marine LLC, Canal Barge Transportation Services, American River Barges LLC, Central Barge Corporation, Sweeney Marine Services.

Western Europe was the largest region in the inland water transport market in 2025. Asia-Pacific was the second largest region in the inland water transport market. The regions covered in the inland water transport market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the inland water transport market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The market for inland water transport includes revenues earned by entities by providing navigation as well as drainage, irrigation, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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