Domestic Waterborne - United States

Transportation intensity in the United States is projected to amount to 0.02TKM/GDP.
Volume of goods transported in the Domestic Waterborne market is projected to amount to 524.60bn TKM in 2024.
Number of container transported in in the United States is projected to amount to 5.88m TEU in 2024.

Definition

The Domestic Waterborne Freight Market involves the transportation of goods via navigable rivers, canals, and lakes. This market focuses on the movement and handling of cargo using inland waterways, distinct from maritime (ocean) freight transportation. It encompasses the operations, services, and infrastructure related to the shipping of goods over these inland water routes, primarily for commercial purposes.

Additional Information

The Water Transportation market covers the volume of goods transported and transportation intensity. Key players in the Inland Waterways Freight Market include operators of inland cargo vessels, logistics companies specializing in waterway transport, and port operators managing inland waterway terminals. These entities play a significant role in facilitating the efficient movement of goods via inland waterways and contribute to the overall logistics and transportation infrastructure.

Transportation of goods via rivers, canals, and lakes
Containerized freight services on inland waterways

Maritime (ocean) freight transportation
Passenger ferry services on inland waterways
Land-based transportation (road, rail)
Recreational boating and tourism services
Pipeline transport of liquids and gases
Goods transportation by water outside the country

Domestic waterborne or the Inland water transportation efficiently moves goods along rivers, lakes, and other inland waterways, known for its cost-effectiveness, especially for bulk goods. Suited for transporting coal, grain, and raw materials, barges can carry substantial cargo, making it economical for specific industries.

It is often part of intermodal networks, connecting with road and rail via rivers and canals, facilitating goods movement between different modes. Considered environmentally friendly, it generally has lower emissions per ton-mile, utilizing natural waterways as sustainable infrastructure.

Critical for industries along waterways, it supports moving raw materials to manufacturing centers and distributing finished goods, contributing to regional and global trade. In some regions, seasonality can impact inland water transportation, requiring measures like icebreakers in winter.

Investments in maintaining and improving infrastructure, such as dredging channels and maintaining locks, are crucial. Inland water transportation connects with coastal and seaport facilities, serving as transfer hubs between oceangoing vessels and smaller barges for inland transport.

Playing a vital role in moving goods and passengers, inland water transportation offers a sustainable and economically viable option for regions with navigable rivers and waterways.

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2B enterprises. Figures are based on the activities of the Domestic Waterborne freight market.

Modeling approach:

Market sizes are determined through a bottom-up approach, building on specific predefined factors for each market. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use resources from the Statista platform as well as annual financial reports of the market-leading companies and industry associations, third-party studies and reports, national statistical offices, international institutions, and the experience of our analysts.

Forecasts:

In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the relevant market. For example, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing are well suited for forecasting transportation activity due to the non-linear growth of this market

Additional notes:

The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. The market is updated twice a year.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis and additional information on the Mobility market, in a PDF format.

Ocean shipping is an integral part of the supply chain for most industries, making it a backbone of global trade. It is estimated that an overwhelming majority of goods, around 80 percent, are transported by ships. The volume of seaborne trade has been showing a growing trend since 1990. Between 1990 and 2021, the volume of cargo transported by ships more than doubled, from four to nearly 11 billion tons. Hand in hand with the rise in seaborne trade goes the increasing capacity of the global merchant fleet. Between 2013 and 2021, the capacity of the worldwide merchant fleet grew by about 43 percent, reaching almost 2.1 million deadweight tons in 2021.