International Freight Forwarding Market Report 2026

The international freight forwarding market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $117.71 billion in 2025 to $124.69 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in international trade volumes, expansion of global manufacturing networks, increasing reliance on third-party logistics providers, development of standardized freight documentation, adoption of containerized shipping.

The international freight forwarding market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $155.16 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.6%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing e-commerce driven cross-border shipments, rising investments in digital logistics platforms, expansion of nearshoring and reshoring strategies, growing demand for supply chain resilience, increasing regulatory complexity in global trade. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of digital freight forwarding platforms, rising demand for end-to-end shipment visibility, growing use of automated customs documentation, expansion of multimodal freight solutions, enhanced focus on carbon-efficient shipping routes.

The expansion of the e-commerce sector is anticipated to fuel growth in the international freight forwarding market in the coming years. The e-commerce sector involves buying and selling goods and services online, enabling businesses and consumers to complete transactions digitally without in-person interaction. This sector is expanding due to factors such as convenience and ease of access, the rise of mobile shopping, improved logistics and delivery networks, and greater internet availability. International freight forwarding supports e-commerce by coordinating global shipping operations, overseeing customs procedures, managing costs, enabling shipment tracking, and ensuring compliance with regulations to deliver products across borders efficiently and on time. For example, in December 2025, data from the US Census Bureau indicated that e-commerce sales in the third quarter of 2025, adjusted for seasonal variation but not for price changes, totaled US$310.3 billion - a 5.1% increase from the same quarter in 2024 - and represented 16.4% of total retail sales. Therefore, the growth of e-commerce is contributing to the expansion of the international freight forwarding market.

Companies involved in international freight forwarding are increasingly adopting digital freight procurement platforms, such as enterprise-level procurement systems, to improve efficiency, cost transparency, and decision-making. These cloud-based platforms allow shippers and freight forwarders to manage freight rate sourcing, benchmarking, tendering, booking, and execution across multiple carriers and transportation modes, offering tools such as real-time rate comparisons, automated RFQ processes, and centralized shipment management. For instance, in April 2025, Freightos, a digital freight booking and logistics technology provider based in Israel, introduced the Freightos Enterprise Suite - a digital freight procurement solution designed to help global shippers and freight forwarders oversee end-to-end freight procurement and execution. The platform integrates rate benchmarking, automated tender workflows, and direct booking across air, ocean, and ground transportation, improving cost control, automation, and overall visibility in international freight forwarding operations.

In February 2025, JAS Worldwide, a U.S.-based logistics and supply chain provider offering air, ocean, and multimodal freight services, acquired International Airfreight Associates B.V. (IAA) for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to strengthen JAS’s logistics portfolio by expanding its presence in key European markets and enhancing its expertise in handling time-sensitive, perishable, and multimodal freight operations. International Airfreight Associates B.V., located in the Netherlands, specializes in air, ocean, and road freight forwarding, with a strong focus on perishable goods and general cargo across Europe.

Major companies operating in the international freight forwarding market are DHL Group, United Parcel Service of America Inc., FedEx Corporation, Kühne + Nagel International AG, DSV Panalpina A/S, Schenker Deutschland AG, Nippon Express Co. Ltd., GEODIS SA, DACHSER Group SE & Co. KG, CJ Logistics Corporation, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics SE & Co. KG, Kintetsu World Express Inc., Yusen Logistics Co. Ltd., Sankyu Inc., Agility Public Warehousing Company, Bolloré Logistics Netherlands B.V, Dimerco Express India Private Limited, Uber Freight LLC, CEVA Logistics India Private Limited, Sinotrans India Private Limited, Panalpina Welttransport Holding AG.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the international freight forwarding market in 2025. The regions covered in the international freight forwarding market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the international freight forwarding market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The international freight forwarding market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as transportation management, cargo insurance, documentation handling, cargo tracking, packing, and crating. 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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