A&A releases new global ITM market report

By AI, Created 7:25 PM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Armstrong & Associates has published a new analysis of the global international transportation management market as it heads into 2026 and 2027. The report says the market is recovering after sharp swings tied to tariffs, rerouted ocean traffic and freight-forwarder consolidation.

Why it matters: - The global international transportation management market is recovering after one of the most volatile periods in modern freight forwarding. - The report projects the market will reach $347.1 billion in 2026 and $361.6 billion in 2027. - The findings matter for shippers, freight forwarders and logistics investors watching pricing, capacity and deal activity.

What happened: - Armstrong & Associates released “Cape of Good Hope: Global International Transportation Management (ITM) Market Analysis” on May 20, 2026. - The Brookfield, Wisconsin-based firm said the report covers the global ITM 3PL segment heading into 2026 and 2027. - The report is available for purchase at 3plogistics.com. - The report’s contents and a sample are available at the linked report page. - The report is also included as a standard download in all four tiers of Armstrong & Associates’ Expert Information Service subscription.

The details: - The report says the global ITM market rose from $274 billion in 2019 to a peak of $533 billion in 2022. - The market then fell 46.5% to $285 billion in 2023. - The market recovered to $329.0 billion in 2025, up 8.0% year over year. - Armstrong & Associates projects 5.5% growth in 2026 and 4.2% growth in 2027. - The report points to tariff policy disruption, including the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the IEEPA-based tariff regime, replacement with a 10% Section 122 global tariff and the elimination of the de minimis exemption for China-origin imports. - The report also cites Middle East conflict and the Cape of Good Hope reroute, which has pushed Asia–Europe and Asia–U.S. East Coast ocean traffic around southern Africa. - Those reroutes extend transits by 10 to 14 days and have sidelined about 8% to 10% of global container capacity temporarily in or near the Persian Gulf. - The report adds that importers have been frontloading goods and adjusting inventory ahead of expected tariff changes. - The report says the Top 25 global freight forwarders have been structurally reshaped by the DSV–DB Schenker combination and the CMA CGM/CEVA integration of Bolloré Logistics. - North America was the structural winner from the 2017-2025 cycle, according to the report. - Asia Pacific remained the largest regional ITM market at $122.0 billion in 2025, equal to 37.1% of the global total. - Europe’s ITM share fell from 19.1% in 2017 to 17.1% in 2025. - The Top 5 global freight forwarders — Kuehne + Nagel, DSV, DHL Supply Chain & Global Forwarding, Sinotrans and NIPPON EXPRESS — generated about $137.5 billion in gross logistics revenue. - Those five companies handled about 9% to 10% of global containerized ocean freight movements and 11% to 12% of global air cargo. - Buy-side global 3PL M&A stayed active through 2025, with 23 transactions above $100 million and six above $1 billion.

Between the lines: - The report frames 2026 as a reset year for global freight, with policy shocks and conflict-driven rerouting changing how capacity and pricing behave. - The combination of large forwarder mergers and persistent deal activity suggests the industry is becoming more concentrated while still attracting capital. - Regional share shifts point to North America and Asia Pacific as the biggest beneficiaries of the latest cycle, while Europe has lost ground.

What’s next: - Armstrong & Associates expects the ITM market to keep expanding, though at a slower pace than the post-2023 rebound. - Shippers and forwarders are likely to keep adjusting routing, inventory and sourcing decisions as tariff and capacity conditions change. - The report is available through Armstrong & Associates’ website and EIS subscription offering.