The INTERCARGO “Benchmarking Bulk Carriers” 2025 report has been published and it is available free of charge to INTERCARGO members.
Members may access the report below or download the attached (.pdf) file (login required).
Non-members may order the report from the Secretariat at info@intercargo.org
Foreword / Executive Summary
In 2026, the dry bulk sector continues to navigate a complex landscape shaped by both opportunity and uncertainty. Building on the progress achieved in 2025, INTERCARGO remains firmly committed to supporting its members and advancing quality, safety, and sustainability across the global fleet.
Against this backdrop and while INTERCARGO’s badge of quality is widely recognised within the industry, the 17th edition of the Bulk Carriers’ Benchmarking Report provides a timely and data-driven reflection of our sector’s performance, highlighting not only areas of resilience and improvement, but also the challenges that demand continued vigilance. It underscores the strength of our growing membership and the collective responsibility we share in upholding high operational standards, while reinforcing the importance of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement as we shape the future of dry bulk shipping.
The present report provides a critical evaluation of the bulk carrier sector through a range of key performance indicators, outlined in the sections that follow. At the outset, it is also important to highlight a concerning industry-wide development: in 2025, the trend of rising crew abandonment continued, with 410 cases reported compared to 290 in 2024, which had already been a record year. A total of 6,233 seafarers were affected — the highest figure recorded to date. The shadow fleet and related sanctions remain key contributing factors. Yet of the 2025 cases, only 41 (i.e., 10% of cases) involved bulk carriers, none of which were INTERCARGO members. While this represents an increase compared to 2024, it remains below the broader upward trend observed across other shipping sectors.
This report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the bulk carrier industry, presenting key performance indicators, providing information on the following topics:
- Global Fleet and Market Trends
- Classification societies
- Flag
- INTERCARGO – Entered Ships’ Performance
- Owners’ benchmarking
- Casualty reporting and injury frequency rates
- Protection & Indemnity
- Port State Control (PSC)
Thank you for your continued support in all our endeavours to improve the safe operations of the dry bulk fleet globally.
The INTERCARGO secretariat
May 2026
