Cargo Inspection Market Report 2026

The cargo inspection market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $2.99 billion in 2025 to $3.14 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in international trade activities, increasing logistics and transportation volumes, rising emphasis on cargo quality assurance, development of inspection technologies, expanding global shipping operations.

The cargo inspection market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.77 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing need for secure cargo handling, increasing regulatory enforcement across supply chains, expansion of smart logistics infrastructure, rising demand for real time inspection and monitoring, continued growth in global freight movement. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing focus on cargo safety and compliance verification, rising adoption of digital cargo monitoring solutions, growing need for quality assurance across logistics chains, expansion of inspection services across multiple transport modes, increasing demand for efficient risk detection and prevention.

A rise in international trade is expected to propel the growth of the cargo inspection market. International trade refers to the buying, selling, or trading of products and services between businesses across different countries. In international trade, cargo inspection helps authorities verify whether shipment contents comply with regulatory, safety, and contractual requirements outlined in sales agreements. As global trade volumes increase, the need for accurate, efficient, and secure cargo inspection solutions becomes more critical. For instance, in April 2024, according to the World Trade Organization, a Switzerland-based intergovernmental organization, the volume of world merchandise trade was projected to increase by 2.6% in 2024 and 3.3% in 2025, with Africa’s exports expected to grow the fastest in 2024 at 5.3%. Therefore, the surge in international trade is driving growth in the cargo inspection market.

Major companies operating in the cargo inspection market are launching new systems, such as next-generation X-ray screening systems, to provide advanced solutions for screening air cargo and pallets. Next-generation X-ray screening systems represent an evolution of traditional X-ray technologies, incorporating enhanced imaging quality, higher penetration capability, and improved threat detection accuracy. For instance, in March 2023, Rapiscan Systems, a US-based supplier of security inspection systems, launched the 935DX, a new model in its ORION X-ray screening systems line designed for screening air cargo and pallets. As one of the largest tunneled conveyor systems available, the 935DX features a centrally positioned primary generator beneath the conveyor, ensuring accurate imaging regardless of object orientation. The system also requires no installation or service access from above, making it suitable for facilities with limited overhead space and improving operational efficiency in air cargo screening environments.

In October 2024, Element Materials Technology Group Limited, a US-based provider of testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, acquired Industrial Service Solutions (ISS) for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Element aimed to expand its global inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT) capabilities across highly regulated sectors such as aerospace, defense, and energy by integrating ISS’s specialized services, workforce, and customer-facing brands. Industrial Service Solutions is a US-based inspection firm offering NDT, inspection, precision cleaning, and special-process services supporting mission-critical assets across aerospace and energy industries.

Major companies operating in the cargo inspection market report are SGS Group, Bureau Veritas SA, Intertek Group PLC, ALS Limited, Cotecna Inspection SA, Peterson and Control Union BV, AIM Control Inspection Group of Companies, Cargo Inspections International Limited, Alex Stewart International Private Limited, CWM Survey & Inspection BV, Alfred H Knight International Limited, Cargo Inspectors and Superintendence Co. Pvt. Ltd., Wakefield Inspection Services Ltd., Marine Inspection LLC, Saybolt LP, Camin Cargo Control Inc., Qtech Control Limited, Bureau Cargo Inspection, Commodity Inspection Services, Lloyd's Inspection Agency, National Inspection Services, Intego Inspection Services, Pro QC International.

North America was the largest region in the cargo inspection market analysis in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the cargo inspection market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cargo inspection market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The cargo inspection market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing pre-loading survey services, loading surveys services, shipment inspection services, cargo container inspection services and cargo quality control services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The cargo inspection market also includes sales of inspection equipment and systems that are used in providing cargo inspection services. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

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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