Global Freight Forwarding 2026

Forwarding to hit €233.0bn in 2030 as mega-consolidation, geopolitical disruption & AI capability divergence transform the market. Ti’s Global Freight Forwarding 2026 report and research is now available.

Drawing on trade data, port statistics, airline cargo metrics, macroeconomic forecasts, and a dedicated procurement survey of shippers, Global Freight Forwarding 2026 examines market performance across six major regions, and the diverging trajectories of sea and air freight through to 2030.

The full research – available via the new Ti Hub – provides trusted market size and forecast data, competitive analysis, procurement behaviour trends and AI landscape assessment.

Map market shifts, benchmark your competitive position, identify modal strategy and high-margin verticals.

Key highlights:

• 2025 growth: Global freight forwarding market grew 4.4% despite geopolitical and operational disruption.
• Market forecast: Global freight forwarding market expected to reach €233bn by 2030.
• AI adoption accelerating: 94% of identified freight forwarding AI use cases are already operational deployment.

• Structural disruption: Red Sea instability, Middle East conflict and tariff volatility are becoming long-term industry challenges.
• Modal diversification: Nearly 85% of shippers made at least one modal shift in the past 12 months.
• Mega-consolidation: DSV's acquisition of DB Schenker has created the world's largest freight forwarder.

Use the research for:

• Market planning: identify key growth areas and support investment strategy.
• Competitive analysis: benchmark performance, identify opportunities.
• M&A targeting: assess key targets.
• Tech & innovation: track digital trends and guide product development.
• Operations: plan capacity ad optimise regional resources.
• Marketing: support messaging & build thought leadership.
• Structural disruption: track corridor shifts and mitigate supply chain risk.

Forwarding to hit €233.0bn in 2030 as mega-consolidation, geopolitical disruption & AI capability divergence transform the market.

Key findings at a glance:

• 2025 growth: market grew 4.4% in 2025 despite disruptive headwinds.
• 5-year outlook: growth will slow over the next 5 years.
• Mega-consolidation: DSV-DB Schenker merger transforms market balance.
• Structural disruption here to stay: can no longer be treated as one-off threat.
• Mode shift: 85% make at least 1 modal shift in the last year.
• AI race accelerating: of 32 use cases, 94% are live operational deployments.

What's inside this research?

• Market size & growth forecasts: 2025, 2026 - 2030 - split by air, sea, and regional breakdowns.
• Disruption & resilience analysis: geopolitical developments, freight dynamics & strategic shifts.
• Global freight procurement survey 2026: shipper behaviour, modal & KPI trends, resilience strategies.
• AI competitive landscape: 32 use cases mapped.
• Top 20 competitive landscape analysis: revenues, volumes, profitability, sector mix and M&A.
• Provider profiles: leading forwarders and strategic positioning.