Green Shipping Market Outlook 2025: Key Data & Innovations

​The Green Shipping Market Outlook 2025 examines the role of digital solutions in advancing sustainable maritime transport. Trends such as biofuel, marine propulsion, and green logistics are improving interactions among shipping companies, regulatory bodies, and environmental organizations. This report offers stakeholders, investors, policymakers, and analysts an overview of the market’s current status and projected growth. It also highlights key developments shaping the future of green shipping.

Executive Summary: Green Shipping Market Outlook 2025

• Industry Growth Overview: The green shipping market has more than 845 companies and 460 startups. The global green shipping technologies market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.89% during 2025-2032, growing from USD 22.31 billion in 2024 to USD 140.74 billion in 2032. On a granular level, the market has experienced a growth rate of 23.77% over the past year as per the Discovery platform’s latest data.
• Manpower & Employment Growth: The market employs over 139K individuals globally, with an increase of 5K+ new jobs added in the last year.
• Patents & Grants: The green shipping market features more than 3330 patents and 200 grants. The patent growth rate is 5.07% yearly, with South Korea and the US leading in patent issuance.
• Global Footprint: Key hubs for green shipping include the US, the UK, Germany, Norway, and India, showcasing a diverse global infrastructure supporting market growth. The major city hubs consist of Singapore, London, Piraeus, Istanbul, and Hamburg.
• Investment Landscape: The average investment value per funding round exceeds USD 25 million, with over 350 funding rounds closed. More than 380 investors are actively engaged in the green shipping market.
• Top Investors: Major investors include BNP Paribas, Citi, PNC, First Commonwealth Bank, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, and more are collectively investing over USD 1778.3 million across numerous companies.
• Startup Ecosystem: Five innovative startups, Birra Technologies (green methanol technology), Inomare Technologies (AI-driven ship management and smart digitalization), WingTek (wind auxiliary propulsion systems), CircleProcess Technologies (shipping fuels decarbonization), and Mayero (composite materials upcycling) showcase the market’s global reach and entrepreneurial spirit.

Methodology: How We Created This Green Shipping Market Report

This report is based on proprietary data from our AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, which tracks 7 million global companies, 20K+ technologies and trends as well as 150M patents, news articles and market reports. This data includes detailed firmographic insights into approximately 7 million startups, scaleups, and tech companies. Leveraging this exhaustive database, we provide actionable insights for startup scouting, trend discovery, and technology landscaping.

For this report, we focused on the evolution of green shipping over the past 5 years, utilizing the Discovery platform’s trend intelligence feature. Key data points analyzed include:

• Total Companies working in the sector
• News Coverage and Annual Growth
• Market Maturity and Patents
• Global Search Volume & Growth
• Funding Activity and Top Countries
• Subtrends within green shipping

Our data is refreshed regularly, enabling trend comparisons for deeper insights into their relative impact and importance.

Additionally, we reviewed trusted external resources to supplement our findings with broader market data and predictions, ensuring a reliable and comprehensive overview of the green shipping market.

What Data is Used to Create This Green Shipping Market Outlook?

Based on data provided by the StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, we observe that the green shipping market stands out in the following categories relative to the 20K+ technologies and trends we track.

These categories provide a comprehensive overview of the market’s key metrics and inform the future direction of the market.

• News Coverage & Publications: The green shipping market has been featured in over 1520 publications in the last year, which showcase major media attention.
• Funding Rounds: There have been more than 350 funding rounds recorded in our database for this domain.
• Manpower: The global workforce in the green shipping market exceeds 139K, with an additional 5K+ employees added in the past year alone.
• Patents: The green shipping market holds more than 3330 patents.
• Grants: Over 200 grants have been awarded to companies within the green shipping domain.

Explore the Data-driven Green Shipping Market Outlook for 2025

According to Markets and Data, the global green shipping market is valued at USD 22.31 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 140.74 billion in 2032 at a CAGR of 25.89%.

Our database includes 460+ startups, with a total of over 840 companies contributing to the green shipping market’s growth. Despite a modest market growth of 23.77% in the past year, the green shipping market continues to thrive.

Credit: CMI Consulting

As per the current market research conducted by the CMI Team, the global zero-carbon shipping market is expected to record a CAGR of 8.2% from 2024 to 2033. However, on a micro level, the market grew by a rate of 23.77% last year as per the Discovery platform’s latest data.

Additionally, the global workforce for these companies exceeds 139K, with an employee growth of 5K over the last year. The key hubs driving innovation within the green shipping market are located in the US, the UK, Germany, Norway, and India, with top cities including Singapore, London, Piraeus, Istanbul, and Hamburg.

A Snapshot of the Global Green Shipping Market

Over the past year, the green shipping market has experienced a modest annual growth of 23.77%. Our database includes 46+ startups, with over 45 early-stage companies. Additionally, more than 180 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have occurred, which indicates consolidation and growth within the green shipping market.

The patent landscape reveals 3330+ patents filed, with a yearly patent growth rate of 5.07%. Further, the top issuer of patents is South Korea, accounting for over 780 patents, followed by the US with 610+ patents, highlighting the technological advancements in green shipping.

Explore the Funding Landscape of the Green Shipping Market

The average investment value per round exceeds USD 25 million, which showcases the major financial backing the green shipping market attracts. With over 350 funding rounds closed, more than 380 investors have actively contributed to shaping the market’s growth and innovation. Additionally, these investments span across 100+ companies, which highlight the broad appeal and diverse opportunities within the green shipping market.

Who is Investing in the Green Shipping Market?

The combined investment value of the top investors in the green shipping market exceeds USD 1778.3 million. Here is a breakdown of their contributions:

• BNP Paribas invested USD 379.3 million in 3 companies. BNP Paribas committed USD 5 billion to Apollo’s asset-backed credit investments.
• Citi invested USD 250 million in at least 1 company. Citi and Apollo launched a USD 25 billion private credit and lending program.
• PNC invested USD 186.4 million in at least 1 company. PNC invested an additional USD 500 million to open 100+ new branches and renovate 200, raising its total investment to USD 1.5 billion.
• First Commonwealth Bank invested USD 186.4 million in at least 1 company. First Commonwealth Financial plans to acquire CenterGroup Financial to expand in the Cincinnati market.
• Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank contributed USD 148.3 million to at least 1 company. Credit Agricole got ECB approval to increase its Banco BPM stake to 19.8% from 9.9%.
• OP Corporate Bank invested USD 148.3 million in at least 1 company.
• Nordea Bank Abp invested USD 148.3 million in at least 1 company. Nordea Bank Abp announced an early share buyback of up to EUR 250 million after raising its return on equity forecast to above 16%. ​
• Swedbank invested USD 148.3 million in at least 1 company. ​Swedbank and SpareBank 1 alliance are creating a Nordic investment bank by expanding SpareBank 1 markets.
• Danske Bank A/S invested USD 91.5 million in at least 1 company. ​Danske Bank invested in United Fintech Group, joining BNP Paribas and Citigroup.
• Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) invested USD 91.5 million in at least 1 company. ​SEB Greentech invested in CorPower Ocean’s EUR 32 million funding round.

Top Green Shipping Innovations & Trends

Discover the emerging trends in the green shipping market along with their firmographic details:

• Biofuels are emerging as a crucial alternative to conventional fossil fuels in maritime transport with over 4340 companies and a workforce of 545K+. The addition of 28K+ employees in the past year reflects its rapid expansion, supported by an annual growth rate of 5.74%. This growth is driven by increased emphasis on sustainability and regulatory pressures to reduce carbon emissions.​
• Marine Propulsion Systems market is evolving with 500+ companies and 94K+ employees in this domain. Its annual growth rate of 9.15% and the addition of 2K+ employees highlight the demand for technologies that enable a viable short-term solution to achieve greener shipping. Moreover, engine manufacturers are actively developing systems compatible with alternative fuels such as methanol and ammonia. These innovations support more sustainable maritime operations and reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
• Green Logistics provides the basis of green shipping, with 470+ companies employing 89K+ professionals. The addition of 3K+ employees in the past year reflects its steady expansion, supported by an annual growth rate of 7.73%. This growth is driven by stringent environmental regulations and the increasing adoption of sustainable practices across supply chains.

5 Top Examples from 460+ Innovative Green Shipping Startups

The five innovative startups showcased below are picked based on data, including the trend they operate within and their relevance, founding year, funding status, and more. Book a demo to find promising startups, emerging trends, or industry data specific to your company’s needs and objectives.

Birra Technologies deploys Green Methanol Technology

​Australian startup Birra Technologies develops a photocatalytic reactor that converts carbon-neutral biogas into green methanol. The reactor uses a proprietary catalyst, inspired by natural proteins, to adsorb methane from biogas.

Moreover, sunlight provides the activation energy for partial oxidation, producing methanol. This single-stage process operates at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, which reduces energy requirements and simplifies conversion. ​

By converting waste methane into valuable methanol, the startup further reduces environmental pollution.

Inomare Technologies provides AI-driven Ship Management and Smart Digitalisation

​Turkish startup Inomare Technologies develops artificial intelligence solutions that improve sustainability in the maritime industry. Its products Agent Point, MarEEXI, and SeaO2 address various aspects of maritime operations.

Moreover, Agent Point offers a unified platform for managing ship operations, logistics, and document management. It also streamlines processes and ensures secure storage of all documents.

MarEEXI also utilizes the engine control system to restrict engine power in line with the energy efficiency existing ship index (EEXI) baselines. It incorporates an emergency override capability to ensure sufficient power is available when needed.

Further, SeaO2 offers a platform that rapidly analyzes CO₂ emissions reductions using existing vessel data. It also provides accurate evaluations of retrofit benefits.

WingTek delivers Wind Auxiliary Propulsion Systems

​​UK-based startup WingTek develops wind auxiliary propulsion systems to promote sustainable maritime transport.

Its Wingsail technology combines retrofit-friendly designs with smart systems to use wind energy for ocean-going vessels. This integration allows ships to achieve fuel savings and emission reductions while complying with maritime collision regulations.

Further, by providing a scalable solution for the shipping industry, WingTek supports global decarbonization efforts. It also facilitates the transition to cleaner ocean transport.

CircleProcess Technologies fosters Shipping Fuels Decarbonization

Qatar-based startup CircleProcess Technologies develops clean technologies to produce sustainable fuels for the maritime industry. Its onboard system, ReformLNG, converts liquefied natural gas (LNG) into hydrogen. This system captures solid carbon as a byproduct and stores it until the vessel reaches port.

Moreover, once onshore, the CarbonProducts technology processes the collected solid carbon into high-value products. This process improves the economic viability of ship decarbonization.

Further, the integrated method addresses space and resource constraints on ships and complies with environmental regulations. It also supports the maritime industry’s transition to carbon-neutral operations.

Mayero employs Composite Materials Upcycling

​French startup Mayero repurposes decommissioned carbon masts to produce eco-friendly maritime equipment. By refurbishing these masts, the startup creates flexible solar panel supports that provide lightweight and robust installations.

​

Mayero also produces Starlink antenna mounts that ensure optimal reception and ergonomics. These months have adjustable tender davits that are capable of supporting tenders.

Additionally, the startup offers carbon gantries for the installation of solar panels and tender handling. It also provides shade sail jibs that offer adaptable shading solutions without the need for deck drilling. These products offer durable and lightweight alternatives, reduce vessel weight, and improve efficiency.

Further, Mayero contributes to environmental sustainability by minimizing waste and promoting the use of recycled materials in the maritime industry.

Gain Comprehensive Insights into Green Shipping Trends, Startups, and Technologies

By 2025, green shipping is set for innovation as stricter regulations, emerging tech, and market demand push the market toward sustainability. IMO, carbon rules will drive the shift to alternative fuels, electrification, and smart energy systems. Future technologies like AI-driven route optimization, hydrogen propulsion, and carbon capture will reshape operations and support decarbonization goals.

Get in touch to explore all 460+ startups and scaleups, as well as all market trends impacting green shipping companies.