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Barge Transportation Market To Reach $168.49 Billion By 2030

Barge Transportation Market Overview

The global barge transportation market size is estimated to reach USD 168.49 billion by 2030, registering to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2025 to 2030 according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. 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.

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 the dry cargo segment dominated the barge transportation market with a revenue share of 45.6% in 2024.
The liquid cargo segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period.
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.

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Barge Transportation Market Segmentation

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

Barge Transportation Type of Cargo Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)