Barge Transportation Market Size Worth $140.62 Billion By 2025

Barge Transportation Market Growth & Trends

The global barge transportation market size is anticipated to reach USD 140.62 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., rising at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period.

The market is projected to witness significant growth over the forecast period, thanks to growing intermodal transportation in several industries including petrochemicals, crude oil, and food processing. Several initiatives undertaken by various governments to encourage inland water transport and continued investments being made by various governments to develop inland water transport infrastructure. North America is expected to offer tremendous growth opportunities for the barge transportation market owing to the presence of several barge manufacturers and service providers, growing exports and imports, and abundance of waterways.

Barge transportation can be considered a cost-effective and high-capacity mode of transportation as compared to other modes of transport, such as road, rail, and air. Barges can support higher loads and ensure safety, particularly when it comes to transportation of large volumes of cargos. As a result, the adoption of barges is expected to increase over the forecast period.

Increasing spending on research and development activities and subsequent advancements in technology are resulting in the development of technologically advanced barges. LNG-fired barges are emerging as an environmentally-friendly alternative for conventional barges powered by diesel engines. Advancements in communication and navigation technologies coupled with the growing adoption of IoT and other smart technologies are triggering the efficiency and safety factor of barges.

The barge transportation market remains highly vulnerable to developments in the end-use industries, particularly the crude oil and petrochemical industries. The growth in the petrochemical industry and emerging opportunities in ethanol production are expected to positively influence the growth of the market. For instance, Kirby Corporation has recently acquired Higman Marine, Inc. owing to increasing opportunities in petrochemical and ethanol transportation activities.

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Barge Transportation Market Report Highlights

• The demand for barges is projected to increase significantly in line with growth in the economy and rising demand for petrochemicals

• The demand for tank barges is rising due to the increasing demand for crude oil and the growing production of ethanol. Burgeoning output of shale oil in the U.S. is expected to increase the adoption of barges for transportation

• Barge manufactures are focusing on developing technologically advanced products that can ensure the safety of cargo throughout the transportation

• The dry cargo segment is expected to hold the largest market share and expand at a CAGR of 2.9% from 2018 to 2025

• The liquid cargo segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period.

• A large number of barge manufacturers are located in North America and Europe, as these regions have well-developed waterways. The two regions account for a sizeable cumulative share in the global market

• Key players in the market include Campbell Transportation Company, Inc.; Alter Logistics; American Commercial Lines LLC; Heartland Barge; and Kirby Corporation; SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc.

Barge Transportation Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global barge transportation market on the basis of type of cargo, barge fleet, application, barge activities, and region:

Barge Transportation Type of Cargo Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• Liquid cargo

• Gaseous cargo

• Dry cargo

Barge Transportation Barge Fleet Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• Covered barge

• Open barge

• Tank barge

Barge Transportation Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• Coal

• Crude and petroleum products

• Liquid chemicals

• Food pulp and other liquids

• Agricultural products

• Metal ores and fabricated metal products

• Pharmaceuticals

• Dry and gaseous chemicals

• LPG, CNG, and other gaseous products

• Electronics and digital equipment

• Others

Barge Transportation Barge Activities Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• Intracoastal transportation

• Inland water transportation

Barge Transportation Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

• North America

  • The U.S.

  • Canada

• Europe

  • Germany

  • The U.K.

  • France

  • Netherlands

• Asia Pacific

  • China

  • Japan

• South America

  • Brazil

• MEA (the Middle East and Africa)