Smart port

Chronicle

2024: Global Smart Seaports Market Size Reaches $2.82 Billion for the Year

In 2024, spending on the global market for solutions for smart seaport complexes reached $2.82 billion. The lion's share of global costs - more than 70% - came from the Asia-Pacific region. The relevant data are provided in a Fortune Business Insights study, the results of which TAdviser reviewed at the end of December 2025.

A smart port is a modern infrastructure that uses digital technology, automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of operations. At such sites, unmanned cranes and automated vehicles for moving containers, various sensors for tracking the movement of goods and the condition of equipment, intelligent safety systems, etc. can be used.

The industry is driven by operators' desire to reduce costs and improve productivity, the study said. Smart ports are designed to solve problems faced by traditional facilities: congestion, delays, inefficiency and negative environmental impacts. The introduction of digital technologies and IoT systems helps to increase cargo handling speed and terminal capacity, as well as reduce the need for personnel and reduce operating costs.

Another market driver is the growth of maritime trade. According to the UN, its volume in physical terms in 2023 increased by 2.4%, reaching 12.29 million tons: the industry began to recover after a significant reduction a year earlier. However, key shipping routes have experienced significant disruption, resulting in delays, changes in transportation directions and increased costs. Traffic through the Panama and Suez canals - crucial arteries of global trade - had fallen by more than half from peak levels by mid-2024. In such a situation, investment in technology is growing to help improve port efficiency and simplify trade procedures.

Artificial intelligence has a significant impact on the industry. By analyzing huge streams of information from sensors and monitoring systems, neural networks help identify inefficient processes, optimize operations and identify problems in the early stages. Digital twin technologies are being introduced to model port complexes in order to eliminate bottlenecks. AI helps to carry out predictive maintenance by detecting possible malfunctions in the operation of equipment and terminals in advance. In addition, neural networks can reduce the burden on workers when performing routine tasks and minimize the number of errors caused by the human factor.

Depending on the solutions used, the market is segmented into IoT systems, blockchain, process automation and AI. In 2024, the largest share of revenue was provided by the IoT direction - 44.14%. Geographically, Asia-Pacific dominates with 72.7%, or $2.05 billion. Major industry players globally are:

• Intel;
• Trelleborg;
• Kaleris;
• Huawei Technologies;
• ABB;
• Abu Dhabi Ports;
• Royal Dutch Shell;
• Cisco System;
• IBM;
• Kongsberg.

In 2025, the volume of the market in question is expected to reach $3.41 billion. Fortune Business Insights analysts believe that in the future, the CAGR will be 24.7%. Thus, by 2032, spending may increase to about $16 billion.^[1]

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