Global shipping logistics market to reach $13.9 trillion by 2035: New opportunities and challenges for Australian resource exports and supply chains

Global Shipping and Logistics Market Grows Strongly, Asia-Pacific Drives Industry Transformation

The global shipping and logistics market is entering a new growth cycle. According to the latest report by Business Research Insights, the market size is expected to grow from $9.06 trillion in 2026 to $13.9 trillion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.9%. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 39% of global demand, making it the largest regional market, while North America and Europe account for 27% and 24% respectively. As a major economy in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia's mining exports, port operations, and domestic logistics networks will directly benefit from this trend, while also facing pressures for efficiency and green transformation.

Background: Shipping and Logistics – The Lifeline of Global Trade

Shipping and logistics are the cornerstone of international commerce. The report indicates that over 82% of international merchandise trade volume is completed through shipping and logistics channels, with container cargo accounting for 67% of maritime handling and road logistics representing 39% of global domestic freight transport. In Australia, resource commodities (iron ore, coal, LNG) are almost entirely dependent on maritime exports, while the domestic supply chain relies heavily on road and railway networks. By 2025, approximately 58% of logistics companies have integrated digital tracking platforms, 33% of warehouses have introduced automation technology, and cross-border e-commerce logistics demand accounts for 29% of total global logistics demand. These figures indicate that digitalization and automation transformation in the logistics industry are accelerating.

In-Depth Analysis: Multidimensional Impact on Australian Business

Business Level: Export Costs and Efficiency Competition

Australia is one of the world's largest exporters of iron ore, coal, and LNG. Shipping and logistics costs directly determine the international competitiveness of its resource commodities. The report shows that road transport accounts for 43% of global freight demand, water transport 31%, rail 17%, and air 9%. For Australia, iron ore and coal are mainly exported via bulk carriers and water transport, but inland transportation (especially railway lines from mines to ports) is also a key cost factor. For example, BHP and Rio Tinto have dedicated railway networks in the Pilbara, but infrastructure aging is becoming increasingly prominent. If global logistics efficiency improves (e.g., AI route optimization reducing delays by 23%), Australian companies need to upgrade simultaneously, or they will face cost disadvantages.

On the other hand, the rapid growth of e-commerce and last-mile delivery (34% of global logistics demand comes from e-commerce) brings new opportunities for local Australian logistics companies (such as Toll and Linfox). However, due to Australia's sparse population, the improvement of road transport efficiency depends on digital dispatching and the promotion of electric delivery fleets (the report shows that 36% of logistics companies have expanded their electric delivery fleets).

Industry Level: Automation and Green Transformation Reshaping the Supply ChainWarehouse automation investments account for 38% of infrastructure modernization spending, with robotic sorting systems increasing productivity by 27%. Large Australian warehousing hubs (such as those around Sydney and Melbourne) need to accelerate automation deployment to cope with rising labor costs. Meanwhile, green logistics has become a hard constraint: 28% of logistics companies have expanded green transportation initiatives, and 24% of shipping operators are investing in low-emission vessels. Australian shipping companies (such as ANL and Swire Shipping) and ports (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane) must adapt to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) emission reduction requirements or risk facing market access restrictions.

Rail logistics modernization projects have grown by 19% globally, while Australia's rail freight network (especially the lines connecting mining areas to ports) requires substantial investment to enhance capacity and reliability. Digital scheduling systems can increase operational productivity by 18%, which is crucial for Australian mining giants to reduce costs.Over the next 3–10 years, Australia’s logistics industry will undergo structural transformation:

1. Widening port efficiency gap: If global container handling efficiency improves by 18%, Australian major ports that remain stagnant will lose their transshipment hub status. 2. Green shipping regulations as a catalyst: Investment in low-emission vessels (24% of operators have already acted) will become a competitive differentiator, and Australian shipowners need to accelerate fleet renewal. 3. Logistics digitalization: 61% of logistics companies already use cloud platforms; Australia must establish unified data standards (e.g., NTRO’s logistics data program). 4. Regional supply chain restructuring: The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and ASEAN cooperation could position Australia as a key regional logistics hub, especially in cold chain and pharmaceutical transport (cold chain logistics growing by 22%).

Conclusion

The sustained growth of the global shipping and logistics market presents both opportunities and challenges for Australia. In the short term, the resource export boom will continue to support maritime demand, but rising costs and efficiency bottlenecks will test enterprise resilience; in the medium to long term, logistics digitalization, automation, and green transition will reshape the industry’s competitive landscape. Australia must increase infrastructure investment, embrace technological change, and strengthen its nodal position in the Asia-Pacific trade network to ensure its commercial competitiveness.

Source: Business Research Insights, "Shipping and Logistics Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, From 2026 to 2035", updated July 2026. Report link: https://www.businessresearchinsights.com/market-reports/shipping-and-logistics-market-119808