What mode of transport carries the majority of global trade by volume?

Maritime shipping carries the majority of global trade by volume.

Ships move enormous quantities of bulk commodities and manufactured goods across oceans. UNCTAD reports that maritime transport handles more than 80% of international trade, making ocean shipping the backbone of global supply chains. A single bulk carrier can transport tens of thousands of tonnes of grain, coal, or iron ore, while container ships carry manufactured products in standardized boxes.

The answer refers to trade volume, not necessarily trade value. Air freight is much faster and can be important for expensive, lightweight goods, but it carries only a small share of global cargo by weight. Trucks and trains are essential for inland movement, especially for the first and last legs of a journey, yet they do not match shipping’s capacity for intercontinental transport.

Modern containerization, pioneered commercially in the 1950s, made maritime shipping faster, safer, and cheaper by allowing cargo to move between ships, trains, and trucks without being unloaded piece by piece.