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Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 48311CA

Revenue

$5.6bn

2024

$5.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

13,013

Businesses

339

Wages

$X.Xbn

Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada industry analysis

The freight, bulk cargo and passengers' transportation of the Canadian Ocean and Coastal Transportation industry has faced varied conditions, resulting in a decline in revenue. Economic growth in emerging markets and the growing need for Canadian natural resources enabled industry-relevant shipping companies to benefit from Canada's substantial dry and liquid-bulk exports. Stable, pre-pandemic economic growth in the United States also has increased demand for industry services, as shipping to the United States makes up a substantial share of the industry's total export traffic. However, COVID-19 crippled demand for cruises and reduced global trade as countries closed down borders. Ultimately, industry revenue is expected to decline at a CAGR of 2.7% to $5.6 billion over the five years to 2023, although revenue is forecast to surge 14.0% during the current year.Many maritime transporters have expanded their fleets in response to demand for freight transportation services, creating overcapacity. In turn, many carriers have lowered shipping rates to improve capacity utilization, placing downward pressure profitability. Relatively low margins at the outset of the period and the sharp rise in shipping rates during the post-pandemic period have ultimately led to improved profitability.Rising trade activity will generate demand for freight transportation in the coming years. Moreover, strong domestic consumer conditions will increase demand for cruise services, as an aging population equipped with more per capita disposable income looks to travel more following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, industry revenue is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 0.4% to $5.7 billion over the five years to 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • COVID-19 crippled demand for cruises and reduced global trade as countries closed down borders. This hampered the industry, resulting in revenue declines for cruise boats and shippers alike.
  • The passenger segment includes an array of services. Vessels in this segment include ferries, ocean liners and cruise ships.
  • British Columbia is the most popular province for shippers. The province is home to a large commercial port and Canada’s largest ferry service.
  • Companies compete primarily on price and efficiency in the freight shipping segments. To reduce competition and increase efficiency, many companies enter shipping alliances, which enable shippers to share ships and routes.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $5.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Cargo transportation remains the industry's backbone

  • Freight transportation services account for most industry revenue. These services include the transportation of standardized containers and general cargo and dry and liquid bulk commodities.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Growing trade will lead to greater shipping volumes

  • More goods will be moved through the various domestic facilities, directly resulting in a need for ocean transportation services.

Biggest companies in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Algoma Central Corporation
792.7
99.0
12.5
Fednav Limited
163.2
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Dry bulk carriers, Tankers and Passenger vessels. Dry bulk carriers is the largest segment of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Passenger vessels

  • Common passenger ships in this segment include ferries, ocean liners and cruise ships.\
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in the Ocean and Coastal Transportation industry in Canada primarily transport freight and passengers using deep sea, coastal and Great Lakes water transportation. This industry also includes ocean-going cruise ships.

What's included in this industry?

Marine transportation of general freight, bulk commodities, passengers and vehiclesCruise servicesMarine transportation between Canadian points of destinationMarine transportation of exports, unless operator is based out of destination countryMarine transportation of imports, but only by domestically based players

Companies

Algoma Central CorporationFednav Limited

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DRY BULKLIQUID BULK

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 48311 - Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

COVID-19 crippled demand for cruises and reduced global trade as countries closed down borders. This hampered the industry, resulting in revenue declines for cruise boats and...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The passenger segment includes an array of services. Vessels in this segment include ferries, ocean liners and cruise ships.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

British Columbia is the most popular province for shippers. The province is home to a large commercial port and Canada’s largest ferry service.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Companies compete primarily on price and efficiency in the freight shipping segments. To reduce competition and increase efficiency, many companies enter shipping alliances, ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

BC Ferries is the largest company in the industry. Most of the company’s revenue is generated from direct route service, ferrying vehicles and passengers.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Algoma Central Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Fednav Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Algoma Central Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Fednav Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Canada Shipping Act is the primary regulation that governs industry activity. The regulation is enforced by the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Fisheries and Oc...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profitability varies across the industry’s different segments. In the cargo shipping segment, profit mainly depends on cargo volumes, while ferry companies that have governme...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada is $5.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 339 businesses in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation market in Canada are Algoma Central Corporation and Fednav Limited

What does the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada include?

Marine transportation of general freight, bulk commodities, passengers and vehicles and Cruise services are part of the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Algoma Central Corporation.

How competitive is the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Ocean & Coastal Transportation industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Scheduled Air Transportation in Canada
  • Rail Transportation in Canada
  • Long-Distance Freight Trucking in Canada

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Global Deep-Sea, Coastal & Inland Water Transportation
  • Ocean & Coastal Transportation in the US
  • Water Freight Transport in Australia
  • Water Freight Transport in New Zealand
  • Sea & Coastal Freight Water Transport in the UK

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.