Ti estimates that the global freight forwarding market will grow by 2.9% in real terms in 2025, reaching a total value of €213.7bn. Growth is expected across both major forwarding segments, with sea freight forwarding projected to increase by 3.1% and air freight forwarding by 2.8%.
The improvement in freight forwarding demand reflects better-than-expected performance in global trade in 2025. The World Trade Organization revised its forecast for global merchandise trade growth to 2.4%, up sharply from an earlier estimate of 0.9%.
According to Ti, this revision reflects several short-term factors, including “the front-loading of imports in North America ahead of anticipated United States tariff increases”, as well as disinflation, supportive fiscal policies, and stronger momentum in emerging markets.
In April, the United States introduced extensive tariffs, disrupting established trade patterns. Rather than immediately slowing activity, the policy shift led many companies to accelerate shipments in advance, temporarily boosting trade volumes and freight demand.
AI-related goods emerge as a key driver
One of the most notable structural drivers identified in the report is the rapid growth in trade linked to artificial intelligence technologies. Ti cites WTO data showing that AI-related products accounted for nearly half of global trade growth in the first half of 2025.
The value of trade in goods such as semiconductors, servers and telecommunications equipment rose by 20% year-on-year, with Asia and Africa expected to record the fastest export growth in this segment. This trend has been particularly supportive of demand for air and ocean freight forwarding.
Emerging markets support volumes
Beyond tariff-related effects, Ti highlights the role of several emerging economies in sustaining global trade flows. The report points to strong agricultural production in Brazil, fiscal support in China, easing inflation pressures in India, and a rebound in investment in Indonesia as factors shaping demand conditions for freight forwarding in 2025.
At the same time, the broader macroeconomic backdrop remains mixed. The International Monetary Fund expects global economic growth to moderate to 3.2% in 2025, underlining that freight demand is improving within a still-fragile global environment.
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