S&P Global Report: Liner shipping supports $1.1 trillion in U.S. GDP and 6.4 million American jobs

New analysis from S&P Global, released April 28, 2025, by the World Shipping Council, highlights the critical role of the liner shipping industry in the U.S. economy.

The report independently quantifies the annual impact of the liner shipping industry - across key metrics including GDP contribution, employment, wages, sales activity, and government revenues.

Key findings from the report show that liner shipping (container and vehicle carriers):

• Supports 6.4 million U.S. jobs and contributes over $1.1 trillion to U.S. GDP.
• Handles 64.4% of U.S. seaborne trade by value, making it the dominant mode of ocean transport for American imports and exports.
• Transports nearly $1.5 trillion in U.S. trade annually, including $335 billion in exports and $1.1 trillion in imports.
• Generates $262.5 billion in U.S. federal and state tax revenue.

The report also emphasizes liner shipping’s essential role in U.S. domestic production. 44% of U.S. imports transported by liner ships, valued at $490 billion, are industrial inputs such as components, supplies, and raw materials used by American businesses. These inputs generated $628 billion in additional U.S. economic output.

Liner shipping makes over 18,000 port calls across the United States, underscoring the industry’s central role in maintaining reliable trade flows and resilient supply chains.