The capacity of the world general cargo vessel fleet generally decreased between 1980 and 2022. In 2022, the world general cargo ship fleet had a capacity of around 78.8 million metric tons deadweight, which represents a slight increase compared with the previous year.
Capacity of general cargo vessels in seaborne trade from 1980 to 2022
(in million dwt)
Characteristic
Capacity in million dwt
2022
78.8
2021
77.9
2020
76.9
2019
74
2018
74
2017
75
2016
75
2015
74
2010
108
2005
92
2000
101
1995
104
1990
103
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Capacity in million dwt11611610610610310310410410110192921081087474757575757474747476.976.977.977.978.878.8198019851990199520002005201020152016201720182019202020212022
0255075100125150
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Beginning-of-year figures; the values for 1980 through 2020 have been extracted from previous editions. The figures have been rounded. The unit dwt (deadweight tonnage) is the carrying capacity of a merchant ship. According to the source, the statistic refers to freighters with 100 gross tons or more.
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UNCTAD. (November 29, 2022). Capacity of general cargo vessels in seaborne trade from 1980 to 2022 (in million dwt) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 20, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/267604/capacity-of-general-cargo-vessels-in-seaborne-trade-since-1980/
UNCTAD. "Capacity of general cargo vessels in seaborne trade from 1980 to 2022 (in million dwt)." Chart. November 29, 2022. Statista. Accessed February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/267604/capacity-of-general-cargo-vessels-in-seaborne-trade-since-1980/
UNCTAD. (2022). Capacity of general cargo vessels in seaborne trade from 1980 to 2022 (in million dwt). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 20, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/267604/capacity-of-general-cargo-vessels-in-seaborne-trade-since-1980/
UNCTAD. "Capacity of General Cargo Vessels in Seaborne Trade from 1980 to 2022 (in Million Dwt)." Statista, Statista Inc., 29 Nov 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/267604/capacity-of-general-cargo-vessels-in-seaborne-trade-since-1980/
UNCTAD, Capacity of general cargo vessels in seaborne trade from 1980 to 2022 (in million dwt) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/267604/capacity-of-general-cargo-vessels-in-seaborne-trade-since-1980/ (last visited February 20, 2025)
Capacity of general cargo vessels in seaborne trade from 1980 to 2022 (in million dwt) [Graph], UNCTAD, November 29, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/267604/capacity-of-general-cargo-vessels-in-seaborne-trade-since-1980/
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