NAICS 488320 Quarterly Industry Report
Marine Cargo Handling
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 488320Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 488320 industry profile compiles data from Census Bureau[6] establishment surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] employment and wage statistics for water transportation support activities, and SBA[7] size standard guidelines. Fair Market Value updates this report quarterly, tracking container throughput volumes at major U.S. ports and labor agreement developments that affect stevedoring cost structures. Our research team provides NAICS 488320 valuation professionals with current benchmarks on revenue per lift, labor productivity, and equipment use rates.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the marine cargo handling industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Marine Cargo Handling (NAICS 488320) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in providing stevedoring and other marine cargo handling services, excluding warehousing. Stevedores load and unload vessels at port terminals using cranes, forklifts, and specialized container handling equipment. This industry sits at the physical intersection of ocean shipping and landside logistics.
Marine cargo handlers work under demanding conditions, moving containers, breakbulk cargo, dry bulk commodities, and liquid bulk products between ship and shore. Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] data shows that support activities for water transportation employed roughly 98,000 workers nationally. Longshoremen and stevedores represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (West Coast) and International Longshoremen's Association (East and Gulf Coasts) perform much of this work under collectively bargained labor agreements. Wages in this sector exceed most other blue-collar transportation occupations.
The industry operates on a contract or fee-per-lift basis, with terminal operators and shipping lines engaging stevedoring firms for vessel loading plans, cargo stowage, lashing, and discharge operations. Container terminals at major ports process thousands of twenty-foot equivalent units daily. Capital requirements include mobile harbor cranes, reach stackers, straddle carriers, and chassis fleets. Census Bureau[6] establishment data confirms that while the number of firms is relatively small, revenue per employee ranks among the highest in transportation support services.
What's Included in This Industry
- Loading and unloading containerized cargo from ocean-going vessels
- Stevedoring services for breakbulk, dry bulk, and project cargo
- Operating ship-to-shore container cranes and mobile harbor cranes
- Vessel cargo stowage planning and execution for safe transit
- Lashing, securing, and unlashing cargo aboard vessels
- Handling roll-on/roll-off vehicle cargo at automotive terminals
- Discharging and loading liquid bulk cargo through marine hose connections
- Operating yard tractors and chassis for container positioning
- Providing gang labor for vessel turnaround operations at berth
- Tallying, checking, and documenting cargo counts during vessel operations
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Support Activities for Transportation | 488 |
| Industry Group | Support Activities for Water Transportation | 4883 |
| NAICS Industry | Marine Cargo Handling | 48832 |
| National Industry | Marine Cargo Handling | 488320 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 488310 | Port and Harbor Operations | Port and harbor operators that manage terminal facilities where stevedoring firms perform vessel loading and unloading operations as tenants or contracted service providers |
| 488330 | Navigational Services to Shipping | Navigational services to shipping including tugboat and pilotage operations that position vessels at berth before stevedoring crews begin cargo handling work |
| 488390 | Other Support Activities for Water Transportation | Other water transportation support activities including marine surveying and vessel cleaning services that complement cargo handling operations at port terminals |
| 483111 | Deep Sea Freight Transportation | Deep sea freight transportation carriers that contract with stevedoring firms to load and discharge cargo at domestic and international port calls |
| 488991 | Packing and Crating | Packing and crating establishments that prepare breakbulk and project cargo for marine shipment before stevedores load it aboard ocean-going vessels |
| 493110 | General Warehousing and Storage | General warehousing facilities that receive and store cargo discharged by stevedoring crews, providing the landside storage link in maritime supply chains |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 14.0% | 65 |
| 2 | California | 13.8% | 64 |
| 3 | Florida | 11.4% | 53 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 8.6% | 40 |
| 5 | Washington | 7.1% | 33 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 5.0% | 23 |
| 7 | Georgia | 4.5% | 21 |
| 8 | Alabama | 3.7% | 17 |
| 9 | Illinois | 3.0% | 14 |
| 10 | Maryland | 2.8% | 13 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$1.2M
Total Loan Volume
$150K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
12.00%
Average Interest Rate
96
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Under SBA size standards[7], NAICS 488320 businesses qualify as small with average annual receipts up to $47 million. Stevedoring firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for equipment acquisition, working capital, and business expansion. The 504 loan program[9] supports purchase of mobile harbor cranes, container handling equipment, and terminal improvements. Labor-intensive stevedoring operations often require lines of credit to manage payroll cycles tied to vessel scheduling, making SBA working capital programs particularly valuable.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 488320?
Stevedoring companies, marine terminal labor providers, container handling operators, and breakbulk cargo loading firms are classified under NAICS 488320. These businesses perform the physical work of transferring cargo between vessels and the dock. Warehousing is excluded per Census Bureau classification[10] and falls under Subsector 493.
How is NAICS 488320 structured within the transportation sector?
NAICS 488320 falls under Industry Group 4883 (Support Activities for Water Transportation) within Subsector 488. It is distinct from port operations (488310), which covers facility management, and navigational services (488330), which covers pilotage and towing. Marine cargo handling specifically addresses the loading, unloading, and handling of goods aboard or alongside vessels.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 488320?
The SBA sets the size standard[7] for NAICS 488320 at $47 million in average annual receipts. This threshold determines eligibility for SBA lending programs and federal small business contracting set-asides.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 488320?
Related codes include 488310 (Port and Harbor Operations), 488330 (Navigational Services to Shipping), 488390 (Other Support Activities for Water Transportation), 483111 (Deep Sea Freight Transportation), and 488991 (Packing and Crating). These codes collectively describe the maritime supply chain from vessel arrival through cargo discharge and preparation.
What industries depend most heavily on marine cargo handling services?
Deep sea freight carriers (483111) and coastal shipping lines (483113) are the primary customers. Port operators (488310) depend on stevedoring activity for terminal throughput revenue. Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] employment data reflects the labor-intensive nature of this sector, where longshoremen and crane operators form the core workforce.
What activities are included in NAICS 488320?
Included activities cover loading and unloading vessels, operating container cranes and cargo handling equipment, stowage planning, cargo lashing and securing, roll-on/roll-off vehicle handling, bulk cargo discharge, and tallying services. Warehousing and packing/crating are excluded and classified under separate NAICS codes per Census Bureau[10] guidelines.
Are NAICS 488320 businesses eligible for SBA loans?
Yes, stevedoring firms below the $47 million revenue threshold qualify for SBA 7(a) loans[8] covering equipment, working capital, and acquisitions. 504 loans[9] can finance crane purchases and terminal improvements. Labor scheduling volatility tied to vessel arrival patterns makes SBA working capital lines especially useful for managing payroll.
Where are NAICS 488320 businesses geographically concentrated?
Marine cargo handling operations concentrate at major container and bulk cargo ports. Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Houston, and Norfolk handle the largest cargo volumes. Gulf Coast ports dominate bulk commodity handling, while Pacific and Atlantic gateway ports lead in containerized trade according to Census Bureau[6] port-area establishment data.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loan program sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau classification census.gov
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