Four months into 2025, and the global shipping industry overview continues changing each day as the industry (locally and internationally) adapts to ongoing developments.
Today, Tradecorp USA has gathered some shipping industry overview-related trends that can help explain the recent ongoings in the industry to everyone. Have a read!
Also Read: Global Shipping Industry Updates: January-February 2025 Trends
Ongoing US-China Trade Wars
Since Donald Trump assumed his second presidency in January 2025, the latest escalation in the U.S.–China trade war has sent shockwaves through global logistics, freight, and supply chains.
In April 2025, the U.S. imposed a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports (excluding Canada, Mexico, and China), with reciprocal tariffs on over 75 countries.
As a response to this tariff, China responded with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods, which intensified the trade standoff.
Financial markets reacted with volatility, and ocean carriers initiated widespread blank sailings to stabilize freight rates amid plummeting demand, especially on Trans-Pacific routes.
Booking cancellations reached 30%, and inbound container volumes to U.S. West Coast ports dropped by 45%, pushing carriers to cut capacity by up to 42% on some routes.
Shippers are scrambling to reroute cargo away from China to countries like Vietnam and Thailand, but these alternatives are not fully offsetting lost Chinese volume.
The removal of the U.S. de minimis exemption for low-value e-commerce from China and Hong Kong, effective May 2025, is reshaping e-commerce flows and causing air cargo demand to slump.
In response, companies like Shein and Temu raised their prices to adapt to this removal immediately.
Port congestion in Northern Europe and ongoing Red Sea disruptions further complicate the logistics landscape.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is set to introduce phased port fees on Chinese-built vessels in October 2025, aiming to boost domestic shipbuilding but risking further supply chain upheaval.
Cardboard Filler Market Growth
According to recent projections, global cardboard filler market will grow from USD 6,040.3 million in 2024 to USD 9,561.4 million by 2034, reflecting a robust CAGR of 4.7% over the decade.
This acceleration marks an increase from the previous CAGR of 4.1% seen between 2019 and 2023.
The surge is fueled by rising demand for cost-effective, sustainable, and protective packaging solutions, particularly as businesses seek to reduce packaging waste, lower shipping costs, and ensure product safety during transit.
Cardboard fillers, including shredded, corrugated, and molded forms, are increasingly popular because of their lightweight nature and superior shock absorption ideal for protecting fragile items such as electronics and ceramics.
Kraft paper dominates the market, accounting for about 57% of the share in 2024.
Regionally, the United States is expected to see a 4.5% CAGR, while India and China will grow at 5.1% and 4.8%, respectively, thanks to booming e-commerce and industrial sectors.
Despite strong growth, the market faces challenges from environmental regulations, competition from alternative materials, and fluctuating raw material prices.
Manufacturers are responding with product innovation and strategic collaborations to optimize supply chains and expand distribution.
Key industry players include Ranpak, Sealed Air, Smurfit Kappa, Pregis, and DS Smith, all considerable actors in the industry.
Recent developments highlight a shift toward recyclable and paper-based solutions, with major companies like Amazon moving to phase out plastic fillers in favor of sustainable alternatives.
Transportation Industry Evolution
The transportation industry in 2025 is rapidly evolving, driven by innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation.
Key trends include the surge in autonomous vehicles, with semi-autonomous models projected to generate $236.85 billion in market value by 2025 and fully autonomous vehicles contributing $191.45 billion.
By the end of 2025, nearly 60% of new vehicles sold globally will feature Level 2 autonomy, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
Companies like Waymo and Nuro are advancing robotaxi and delivery services, while startups such as TuSimple are piloting driverless trucking to boost efficiency and reduce labor dependence.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision optimize routes, reduce congestion, and enhance safety.
Smart cities are deploying vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication infrastructure to support autonomous public transit, last-mile delivery, and municipal services.
Other notable trends include the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles, digital twin simulations for infrastructure planning, and predictive mobility analytics to anticipate demand and improve resilience.
The industry is also seeing growth in electric vehicles, shared mobility, and Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms, all supported by a vibrant global startup ecosystem.
Market Growth
On a latest report by the Verified Market Research®, it projected the shipping container industry to reach a revenue of USD 13.89 billion by 2031 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.19% from 2024 to 2031.
The booming e-commerce sector, rising international trade, and ongoing modernization of port infrastructure worldwide take part in propelling these numbers.
Shipping containers remain the backbone of global commerce, transporting over 80% of goods by volume via maritime routes.
As developing economies integrate further into global supply chains, demand for efficient containerized transport continues to rise.
The Asia-Pacific region leads this market, fueled by China’s massive manufacturing base, extensive export volumes, and investments in smart port technologies and maritime corridors.
Key trends shaping the market include the adoption of eco-friendly containers, size standardization, and integration with tracking and smart logistics technologies.
These innovations enhance container durability, improve operational efficiency, and enable real-time monitoring of shipments.
Meanwhile, intermodal transport compatibility remains a major advantage, allowing seamless transfer of containers between ships, trucks, and trains.
However, the market faces challenges such as raw material price volatility, especially steel, geopolitical trade tensions, and container imbalances.
As a result, some regions can suffer the lack of shipping containers when they must ship cargo, while others instead have container surpluses.
Port congestion at major hubs like Shanghai and Los Angeles also disrupts container flow, increasing costs and carbon emissions.
Conclusion
Despite the ups and downs in the ongoing global shipping industry overview, shipping containers and similar platforms will still be needed by any industry. To source shipping containers of the best qualities and specifications, contact Tradecorp today! With its comprehensive product catalog, Tradecorp satisfies any industrial need that requires shipping containers as a solution.
