According to the most recent International Maritime Organization data, the total number of international freight shipments in July was 186 million.


Of these, 148.7 million were carried by containers (96.2% of global container movement), 121.7 million by dry bulk ships (7.7%), and 9.2 million by other commercial transport vessels.

International freight shipment numbers have increased for the third month in a row in September. According to the IMO, this was only the second time in nearly 15 years that monthly data had turned positive. The other time was in February of 2014.

According to the data, year-to-date international freight numbers were 290.3 million, down 7.7% from the same period last year.

Forwarders have benefited from the increase in container cargo numbers, as the volume of international freight has increased.