IBISWorld Platform
Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.
Inland Freight Water Transport in France Industry Data and Analysis
France's inland freight water transport has historically been vital, offering extensive connectivity across the country. However, over the years, fluctuations in transport volumes have been notable due to ageing infrastructure and increasing competition from road and rail transport. Climate change challenges, such as severe droughts affecting major waterways like the Seine and Rhône, have led to operational disruptions. These factors have highlighted the urgent need for modernised infrastructure and adaptation to maintain the industry’s relevance and capacity within the nation's logistics network. Over the five years through 2025, industry revenue is expected to decrease at a compound annual rate of 2.6% to €383.3 million, including a 1% decline in 2025.France's inland freight water transport industry plays a crucial role in eco-friendly logistics. Barges are significantly reducing road congestion and emissions, providing substantial environmental benefits. These waterways support major infrastructure projects by efficiently transporting heavy materials. Key innovations include hybrid and hydrogen-powered vessels, enhancing sustainability. Major players like CMA CGM and CFT collaborate with industries to optimise supply chains and reduce carbon footprints. The strategic utilisation of urban waterways is improving logistics efficiency for retailers, reinforcing the industry’s alignment with France’s emission reduction goals.Over the five years through 2030, industry revenue is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of 0.7% to €396.1 million. France's inland freight water transport is set to undergo a major transformation, with projects like the Seine-Nord Europe Canal creating essential links to key European trade routes. This new canal will connect the Seine River to the network of European waterways, facilitating more efficient and improved trade across the continent. Planned infrastructural overhauls will modernise ports and waterways, enhancing their efficiency and adaptability. The industry's digitalisation will incorporate technologies for advanced logistics management, including real-time tracking and AI-driven optimisation. With a focus on developing intermodal logistics hubs, seamless cargo transitions between various transport modes will be achieved, allowing the industry to strengthen its position in sustainable, efficient logistics.
Access this data your way
The Inland Freight Water Transport in France Industry analysis is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.
API Data Delivery
Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.
Integrations
Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.
What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released August 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France operates under the industry code FR-H5022. Companies in this industry transport freight via rivers, canals, lakes and other inland waterways, including inside harbours and ports. They also rent vessels with crew for inland freight water transport. Related terms covered in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France include intermodal transport, internet of things (iot), multimodal terminal, teu (twenty-foot equivalent unit) and predictive analytics tools.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France include International transport , National transport and Transit transport .
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France include CMA CGM SA, Compagnie Fluviale de Transport SAS and Naviland Cargo SAS.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France.
Trusted by industry professionals
More than 6,000 businesses use IBISWorld to shape local and global economies
We were able to supplement our reports with IBISWorld’s information from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. All of our reporting now features some level of IBISWorld integration.
IBISWorld delivers the crisp business knowledge we need to drive our business. Whether it be serving up our major clients, winning new business or educating on industry issues, IBISWorld brings real value.
IBISWorld has revolutionised business information — which has proved commercially invaluable to exporters, investors and public policy professionals in Australia and overseas.
When you’re able to speak to clients and be knowledgeable about what they do and the state that they operate in, they’re going to trust you a lot more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France in 2026?
The market size of the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France is €383.3m in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France in 2025?
There are 637 businesses in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France has been declining at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France?
The biggest companies operating in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France are CMA CGM SA, Compagnie Fluviale de Transport SAS and Naviland Cargo SAS
What does the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France include?
International transport and National transport are part of the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France?
The company holding the most market share in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France is CMA CGM SA.
How competitive is the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Inland Freight Water Transport industry in France.
Cut through the noise with intelligence you can trust
