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Shipping facts

Our facts page presents information on maritime shipping in a nutshell – from fleet data and business figures to the industry’s structural evolution.

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How many shipping companies are there in Germany, and where are they based? How large is the German commercial fleet? How are employment and training figures evolving in the shipping industry?

Find a comprehensive overview in numerous graphics and overviews. The graphics are available for download in JPG and PDF format for use in your own publications and presentations, provided you clearly reference the source as “Graphics: German Shipowners‘ Association”.

Market share in 2024 – Infographic shows: Germany holds an 8.7% market share in container ships (3rd place), 7th place overall in the global merchant fleet.

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Market share 2024
Market share 2024
Development of the German merchant fleet (1999–2024) – Bar chart shows decline in the German merchant fleet since its peak in 2012. In 2024, the fleet will comprise 1,764 ships with a gross tonnage of 47.4 million.

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Development in the German merchant fleet
Ship types in the German merchant fleet – Table shows the composition of the German merchant fleet. Most important ship types: container ships (58.6% GT), bulk carriers, and tankers.

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Ship types of the German merchant fleet
Ship types of the German merchant fleet
first-time employees in maritime shipping (2000–2024) — Bar chart shows new entrants in maritime and commercial training. In 2024, there were 499 new entrants in maritime training and 214 in commercial training.

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First-time employees in the shipping industry
First-time employees in the shipping industry
Flag structure of the German merchant fleet – Infographic shows: 49.5% of German merchant ships sail under EU flags. The most common are Antigua and Barbuda (424), Liberia (383), Portugal (399), and Germany (258). A total of 874 ships are counted under EU flags.

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Flag structure in the German merchant fleet
Flag structure in the German merchant fleet
Additions and withdrawals in the German merchant fleet (2008–2024) – Line graph shows the development of purchases, newbuildings, and sales. In 2024, 70 ships were purchased, 74 were newly built, and 180 were sold.

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Additions and withdrawals in the German merchant fleet
Additions and withdrawals in the German merchant fleet
Shipping company structure in Germany – Pie chart shows: 80% of shipping companies in Germany own a maximum of 10 ships. There are a total of 287 shipping companies, most of which have 0–1 or 2–4 ships.

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Corporate structure in maritime SMEs
Corporate structure in maritime SMEs
Shipping company locations in Germany – Map showing the distribution of the 287 German shipping companies by federal state. Hamburg is the frontrunner with 94 shipping companies and 721 ships.

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Shipping companies in Germany
Shipping companies in Germany
Annual growth of the global merchant fleet (1980–2024) – Combined diagram with bars (tonnage) and line (growth rate): After sharp increases in 2007 and 2011, growth in 2024 will be 3.4%.

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Annual growth of the world merchant fleet
Annual growth of the world merchant fleet

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Average age of the world merchant fleet
Average age of the world merchant fleet
International maritime trade and global GDP (2006–2024) – Line chart comparing the annual growth rates of global maritime trade and global GDP. Both curves show slumps during the 2009 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic. From 2023 onwards, the values stagnate at a low level.

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International maritime trade and world GDP
International maritime trade and world GDP
Container freight index (SCFI), monthly spot rates (June 2019–June 2024) — Line chart shows the development of container rates on various routes. After a massive price increase in 2021, rates will fall significantly in 2022, but will rise sharply again from the beginning of 2024 – especially for routes to the US.

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SCFI monthly spot rates
SCFI monthly spot rates
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