United States Customs Brokerage Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The USA Customs Brokerage Market size is estimated at USD 5.45 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 7.09 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

Key Highlights

• The market for customs brokerage in the United States has been growing steadily, and the growth is expected to continue through the forecast period. The number of entries processed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been increasing steadily with increasing imports.
• The United States exported 166 billion dollars of goods and imports 256 billion dollars for a negative trade balance of USD 90.2 billion during November 2023. In November 2023, the top exports of the United States were Aircraft Parts (USD10.8B), Crude Petroleum (USD 9.87B), Refined Petroleum (USD 9.62B), Petroleum Gas (USD 5.8B), and Commodities not elsewhere specified (USD 5.49B). Cars USD 18.6B, Crude Petroleum USD 15.5B, Telephones USD 11.4B, Commodities not specified elsewhere USD 10.5B, and Computers USD 9.84B were the top imports of the United States in November 2023. The continuously changing trade environment and increasing complexity of compliance are driving the demand for customs brokerage services, especially with Section 301.
• The market for customs brokerage is highly competitive, with a large number of brokers operating, especially along the borders. However, the major players account for a significant market share.
• The companies providing customs brokerage services are investing in research and development activities to gain a competitive edge in the market. As the demand for streamlined and more effective customs clearance processes in short turnaround times is growing, R&D spending is expected to increase through the forecast period.
• The logistics players across the world, including customs brokers, are exploring the application of blockchain technology. For instance, the Blockchain In Transport Alliance (BiTA) is an alliance formed by logistics and other players to drive the adoption of blockchain.
• Livingston announced its membership in the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). The membership allows the company to provide input into an evolving set of industry standards for rapidly developing blockchain technology that will serve as the core of digitized business transactions in the world of international freight.

USA Customs Brokerage Market Trends

Increasing International Trade From The United States

• The United States holds a comparative advantage in specialized, capital-intensive labor, enabling American workers to produce sophisticated goods and investment opportunities at lower costs.
• This specialization, coupled with trade, has bolstered international trade, particularly in US goods. In May 2024, data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and the US Census Bureau revealed a rise in the US goods and services trade deficit.
• The deficit climbed from a revised USD 74.5 billion in April 2024 to USD 75.1 billion in May 2024, driven by a sharper decline in exports than imports.
• Specifically, the goods deficit reached USD 100.2 billion, up by USD 0.9 billion, while the services surplus grew by USD 0.3 billion to USD 25.1 billion.
• In a positive turn, global trade saw an uptick in the first quarter of 2024, with goods trade rising by approximately 1% and services by about 1.5% quarter-over-quarter.
• This surge, buoyed by favorable trade dynamics in the United States and key developing nations, notably major Asian economies, is anticipated to inject an estimated USD 250 billion into goods trade and USD 100 billion into services trade in the first half of 2024 compared to the latter half of 2023.
• Notably, trade growth varied widely across sectors, with green energy and AI-related products witnessing robust increases. High-performance server trade values surged by 25% from the first quarter of 2023, while other computer and storage units saw an 8% uptick.
• Electric vehicles also saw a significant uptrend, with their trade value rising by approximately 25%. This uptick in international trade, especially in the United States, is paralleled by a rising demand for customs brokerage services, indicating a promising market growth trajectory in the coming forecast period.

Sea Transportation Dominates the US Customs Brokerage Market

• Maritime freight transport is the major mode of transport for international transport of goods. The number of customs entries by mode is highest in the case of sea transport, driving the revenue of the customs brokerage market. The demand for air freight transport is increasing with growing demand for perishables, chemicals & valuables, and the rising demand for just-in-time production of goods. The US customs brokerage market for air freight transport is expected to witness faster growth over the forecast period when compared to other modes of transport.
• The United States boasts an extensive inland waterway system, spanning 12,000 miles of rivers, with 237 lock chambers at 192 locations. This network, featuring prominent rivers like the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, serves as a vital commercial logistics asset. It facilitates the movement of over 500 million tons of freight annually, supporting various industries by providing a reliable and economical transportation route.
• In 2023, the Pacific Northwest ports oversaw the inspection and export of 25.9 million metric tons, representing 24% of the total grains. These ports play a critical role in the agricultural supply chain, ensuring the efficient movement of grains to international markets.
• In 2023, customers at the Port of Corpus Christi achieved a historic milestone, surpassing 200 million tons in annual tonnage for the first time. The movement of 203 million tons made this feat possible, marking an 8.1% increase from the previous year. This significant achievement underscores the Port's growing importance as a global trade and logistics hub.
• This surge was predominantly fueled by a notable uptick in crude oil exports, which reached 126.1 million tons, a 12.5% surge from 2022. The increase in crude oil exports highlights the Port's critical role in the energy sector, facilitating the efficient movement of this vital commodity to international markets.

USA Customs Brokerage Industry Overview

The market for customs brokerage in the United States is fairly fragmented, with many number of customs brokers operating in the market, making it a highly competitive environment. The top players in the market include United Parcel Service and FedEx Corporation, with some other significant players including Livingston International, Expeditors, A.N. Deringer, and C.H. Robinson. Based on a number of entries, it was estimated that FedEx and UPS together account for almost the majority of the total market. Although the top five to ten players take up more than 50% of the market, the companies that account for the remaining market share are more in number with very less market shares.

Apart from these players, the major global freight forwarding companies such as DB Schenker and Kuehne + Nagel also have good service offerings in the US customs brokerage market. A lot of acquisitions have occurred in the past decade, such as Carmichael by APL Logistics and Livingston acquiring FPA Customs brokers, among others.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support