Passenger ships and ferries trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in passenger ships and ferries was worth $6.37 billion in 2024, about 393.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 22% since 2017, and down 53% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6.37B | 393.8K t |
| 2023 | $13.47B | 864.5K t |
| 2022 | $8.99B | 533.6K t |
| 2021 | $11.74B | 1.05M t |
| 2020 | $9.01B | 948.8K t |
| 2019 | $9.26B | 1.17M t |
| 2018 | $10.47B | 1.06M t |
| 2017 | $8.20B | 896.6K t |
Top passenger ships and ferries exporting countries
Exports are led by Italy (37%), Finland (11%) and Germany (9%). 86 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 57%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $2.34B | 37% |
| Finland | $690.4M | 11% |
| Germany | $601.0M | 9.4% |
| France | $527.0M | 8.3% |
| Singapore | $468.7M | 7.4% |
| China | $421.7M | 6.6% |
| India | $383.9M | 6% |
| Turkey | $132.5M | 2.1% |
| Netherlands | $118.6M | 1.9% |
| Malta | $88.3M | 1.4% |
| Greece | $69.9M | 1.1% |
| Norway | $54.3M | 0.9% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Switzerland is the biggest buyer with 17% of world imports, ahead of Germany and the United Kingdom. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 40% across 141 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | $1.07B | 17% |
| Germany | $764.4M | 12% |
| United Kingdom | $707.7M | 11% |
| United States | $653.4M | 10% |
| France | $532.1M | 8.4% |
| Malta | $520.1M | 8.2% |
| Maldives | $299.0M | 4.7% |
| Canada | $237.6M | 3.7% |
| Israel | $234.3M | 3.7% |
| Hong Kong | $131.6M | 2.1% |
| Netherlands | $94.2M | 1.5% |
| Norway | $85.3M | 1.3% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $16.18 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Finland averaged $819.38 per kg and Germany $7.89 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Related product types
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
The shipment records behind Passenger ships and ferries (HS 8901.10) importers and exporters, worldwide: companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 8901.10: Cruise ships, excursion boats and similar vessels, principally designed for the transport of persons, ferry boats of all kinds. HS 8901 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most passenger ships and ferries?
Italy exported $2.34 billion in 2024, 37% of the world total, followed by Finland (11%) and Germany (9%). In all, 86 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most passenger ships and ferries?
Switzerland imported $1.07 billion in 2024, 17% of world imports, ahead of Germany (12%) and the United Kingdom (11%). The top three importers together take 40%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in passenger ships and ferries?
It was worth $6.37 billion in 2024, about 393.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 22% since 2017. The peak year was 2023 at $13.47 billion. 86 countries reported exports and 141 reported imports.
What is the average price of passenger ships and ferries per kg?
The world average declared value was about $16.18 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, Finland averaged $819.38 per kg and Germany $7.89 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for passenger ships and ferries?
The HS code for passenger ships and ferries is subheading 8901.10, in chapter 89 (ships, boats and floating structures). The first six digits are the same in every country; national tariffs add more. The full list of codes is on the HS 8901 page.
How can I find passenger ships and ferries buyers and suppliers?
Company names sit below these country totals: EximDataX reads the customs records shipment by shipment, with dates and values. We can show passenger ships and ferries buyers and suppliers on a short call.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
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