This fifth edition of the maritime barometer was produced as part of Maritime Day at the Salon International du Transport et de la Logistique 2025 (SITL) and aims to give a voice to shippers and assess their perception of shipping.
In partnership with theAUTFthis barometer for identify trends and propose a vision for industry players.
Based on the analysis and responses received, we can draw up an overview of the current situation with regard to :
- Choice of port ;
- The choice of shipping companies ;
- The modal split preferred by shippers for pre- and post-carriage ;
- A clear maritime offering ;
- Associated satisfaction.
These considerations point to trends in maritime transport over the next few years. In addition, this new edition has been enriched by the addition of ten questions worked on with theGustave Eiffel University in order to shed light on the notion of "service quality" and understand the criteria that determine shippers' satisfaction, in all their diversity, with different modes (in this case, maritime).
Purchase of transport and port facilities
The majority of the panel, based in France, is the decision-maker when it comes to choosing the shipping line, port and land carrier.
The proportion of respondents making their transport purchases live only declined slightly this year, to 38% from 45% last year. In fact, more respondents are using freight forwarders (40% versus 35% in 2023). The proportion of respondents using both direct purchasing and commission agents also increased from 20% last year to 23% this year.
For 85%, the decision center for transport purchasing is located in France, up slightly on 2023 (82%). In addition, the proportion of participants with a decision-making center located in Europe (excluding France) is only 8% (compared with 12% in 2023), as is the case outside Europe (compared with 6% in 2023).
Port hubs: Haropa, Port of Antwerp and GPM Dunkerque are positioned this year as the main hubs for flows to and from France.
This is a change from the previous study, in which the Marseille GPM came second and the Dunkirk GPM fourth.
While Haropa is used as much as in 2023 (by 75% shippers), the port of Antwerp is used more than last year (at 66%, up 11 points on 2023). 63% of respondents use the Dunkirk GPM, compared with 32% last year, a sharp rise of 31 points compared with 2023. By contrast, the Marseille GPM is down from 68% in 2023 to 38% this year, while the port of Rotterdam remains in last place in the top 5 at 25% (-5 points).
Important note: the results show the rise of the Spanish ports in this ranking, both at 13% (the port of Barcelona was at 11% in 2023, and that of Valencia at 7%).
A decline in overall service quality for shipping lines
On the whole, the performance of shipping companies is not considered satisfactory and seems worsened compared with previous results (60% consider that overall service quality has deteriorated, compared with 36% last year).
The main points of dissatisfaction concern :
- Respect for stopovers for 69% of respondents ;
- Service price (55%) ;
- Compliance with contracts (47%).
However, these points need to be seen in the context of events in the Red Sea and their repercussions.
Finally, it should be noted that environmental policy obtained encouraging results (39% considered it an improvement and 46% stable in a context of tightening regulations) and that equipment availability remained stable at 59% despite events (31% felt, however, that it had deteriorated).
Major impacts in 2024
Port congestion in France is the number one issue facing respondents in 2024 (perhaps due to the situation in the Red Sea...). Then come strikes/blockades French ports, with events that are very localized in 2024 but threaten to intensify in 2025, followed by lack of space on board.
About events in the Red Sea83% consider that the situation has very strongly or strongly impacted their operations against 17% qualifying this impact as medium (no negative response on this criterion).
What's the projection for 2025?
The factors geopoliticsthe CSR issues and developments in the energy context will be key criteria for shipping choices in 2025 and beyond.
The top three factors most likely to influence the choice of shipping mode in the future are the same as in 2023, but in a different order. While geopolitical factors are still in first place, this year CSR issues take second place to the detriment of changes in the energy context, which appear in third place.
CSR should remain a key criterion for shippers (although the proportion of respondents able to forego certain criteria in favor of criteria favorable to environmental transition is declining), in line with the new regulations to come.
Key data
Port plazas
This year, it is worth noting the rise of Spanish ports in the ranking of most-used ports (the port of Barcelona and the port of Valencia).
HAROPA, Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque and Grand Port Maritime de Marseille are the three most commercially active ports for shippers on this year's panel. The Grand Port Maritime de Nantes Saint-Nazaire is also back in the top 5.
In 2024, 65% of the panel said they were satisfied or very satisfied with French ports, 5 points more than in 2023. These results should be seen in the context of the numerous strikes in 2023, which had an impact on shipping operations.
The Port of Dunkirk scored highest in terms of satisfaction.
Shipping companies
CMA-CGM remains the shipping company most frequently solicited by respondents.
60% of the panel consider that the overall service quality of shipping lines has deteriorated in 2024.
The two most important criteria for choosing a shipping line are the availability of loading space (a criterion that did not feature in the top 5 last year) and transit time (idem).
Satisfaction
With an overall satisfaction rating of 2.77/6, maritime transport seems to be only partially meeting shippers' expectations: there has been a fall in service quality since covid which is not being reversed (on-time delivery, dockage, skipped calls, blank sailing, etc.).
Context 2024
The situation in the Red Sea had a particularly strong impact on shippers' operations in 2024: 83% of the panel felt that the situation in the Red Sea had a very strong or strong impact on their operations.
Outlook
In this order, geopolitical factors, CSR issues and changes in the energy context will be key criteria for shipping choices in 2025 and beyond.
A representative barometer
The panel is made up of industrial shippers and distributors using river or combined transport, who responded between December 2024 and mid-February 2025 to an online questionnaire sent out by the Association des Utilisateurs de Transport de Fret (AUTF).
It is made up of major import and export companies, mainly from the distribution (27%)and consumer goods (17%) and food industry (15%). Between them, they account for more than half the panel of respondents (60%). In contrast to last year, the chemistry does not feature in the top 3 most-represented sectors (and represents only 10% of the panel).
Finally, in terms of sales, 51 % of this year's respondents have sales in excess of €1 billion, 10 % between €500 million and €1 billion, and 39 % less than €500 million.
