Cargo Drones Global Market Report 2024

The cargo drones market has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $1.31 billion in 2023 to $1.76 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.7%. The growth observed in the previous period can be attributed to several key factors. These include supportive regulatory frameworks, the cost-efficiency offered by cargo drones, heightened environmental concerns leading to the exploration of eco-friendly transportation solutions, a growing demand for last-mile delivery services, and the imperative role played by cargo drones in emergency response situations. These factors collectively contributed to the growth witnessed in the utilization and development of cargo drone technology during that timeframe.

The cargo drones market is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $5.77 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.6%. The anticipated growth in the upcoming period is expected to be driven by several influential factors. These encompass the ongoing optimization of global supply chains, the continuous growth of e-commerce leading to increased demand for efficient delivery solutions, significant advancements in infrastructure development supporting drone operations, continual improvement in payload capacity enhancing cargo capabilities, a rise in partnerships and collaborations within the industry, and the customization of cargo drones tailored to specific industry needs.

The burgeoning acceptance of commercial drones is expected to be a significant driver propelling the cargo drone market's growth. Commercial drones, utilized for business or income generation, have become increasingly sophisticated in performing complex tasks. This growing acceptance of commercial drones is evident in the Federal Aviation Administration's data, which as of January 2023, showed 871,000 drones registered and 307,000 certified remote pilots in the United States. Consequently, this rise in commercial drone adoption is fueling the cargo drone market's expansion.

The rapid expansion of the e-commerce industry is anticipated to drive significant growth in the cargo drone market. E-commerce, involving online buying and selling of goods and services, has seen substantial growth. Cargo drones offer the potential for faster shipping, especially in the last-mile delivery sector. To meet customer expectations for swift order fulfillment, e-commerce companies are exploring drone technology. For instance, according to the United States Department of Commerce's report in May 2021, US e-commerce sales surged by 39.0% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Consequently, the expanding e-commerce landscape is a key driver behind the growth of the cargo drone market.

Product innovation is a notable trend shaping the cargo drone market, with major companies driving new developments to maintain their market positions. For example, in January 2023, Pyka Inc., a US-based aerospace company, introduced the Pelican Cargo drone, the first electric cargo drone with autonomous capabilities. Offering a payload capacity of 400 lbs (180 kg), a range of up to 200 miles (320 km), and 66 cubic feet of cargo space, the Pelican Cargo is designed to transport essential medical supplies such as drugs, vaccines, and patient samples to remote rural areas and express logistics firms.

Major players in the cargo drone market are focusing on technologically advanced products such as drones equipped with AI-powered autonomy to gain a competitive edge. Skydio, a US-based drone manufacturer, launched the Skydio X10 in September 2023, targeting first responders, infrastructure operators, and military applications. This drone boasts advanced sensors and AI-powered autonomy, providing versatility and capability in high-stakes scenarios. Featuring increased onboard computer power and navigation camera resolution, the X10 offers scalability, NightSense autonomous flight, 3D Scan for automated data capture, and remote flight control via onboard 5G. It caters to applications such as Drone as First Responder (DFR), military operations with link jamming resistance, and critical infrastructure inspections.

In January 2023, Ondas Holdings, a US-based developer of autonomous enterprise systems, acquired Airobotics Ltd. for $15.2 million. This strategic acquisition aims to merge the capabilities of Ondas Holdings and Airobotics Ltd., offering diverse commercial drone solutions. These solutions are geared toward industries such as oil and gas, mining, rail, smart cities, construction management, and public safety. Airobotics Ltd., an Israel-based manufacturer of autonomous Unmanned Aircraft (UAs) systems, specializes in cargo drones, further strengthening the combined business's drone offerings.

Major companies operating in the cargo drones market report are Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co Ltd., Airbus SE, ARC Aerosystems Ltd., BAE Systems plc, Bell Textron Inc., Dronamics Ltd., Parrot Drones SAS, Xiaomi Corporation, AeroVironment Inc., 3D Robotics Inc., Insitu Inc., Airspace Experience Technologies Inc., Drone Delivery Canada Corp, Dufour Aerospace Inc., Elroy Air, Kaman Corporation, Pipistrel doo Ajdovšcina, Sabrewing Aircraft Company, Natilus, Silent Arrow, Flying Basket Srl, H3 Dynamics Pte Ltd., Phoenix Wings GmbH, Gadfin Aero-Logistics Systems, Steadicopter, Amazon Prime Air, Flytrex Inc., Wing Aviation LLC, UPS Flight Forward Inc., Wingcopter GmbH, Wingtra Inc., Zipline International Inc., Volansi Inc., Matternet Inc., Skycart Inc., Flirtey Inc.

North America was the largest region in the global cargo drone market size in 2023. Europe is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the cargo drones market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cargo drones market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The primary categories of cargo drones include fixed-wing and rotary-wing variants. Fixed-wing drones are characterized by wings generating lift through forward motion, resembling and functioning akin to traditional airplanes rather than utilizing vertical lift rotors.These cargo drone solutions encompass a combination of platforms, software, and infrastructure, accommodating various payload capacities ranging from 10-49 kg, 50-149 kg, 150-249 kg, 250-499 kg, 500-999 kg, and exceeding 1000 kg. Additionally, they operate within diverse ranges categorized as close range, short range, mid-range, and long-range applications, catering to industries such as retail, healthcare, agriculture, defense, maritime, among others.

The cargo drone market research report provides cargo drone market statistics, including the cargo drone industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a cargo drone market share, detailed cargo drone market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cargo drone industry. This cargo drone market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The cargo drones market consists of sales of multi-rotor drones, single-rotor helicopter drones, and hybrid fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drones. 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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