Everything Everywhere Daily · Wednesday, July 29, 2026
The cost of shipping goods has dramatically decreased over the last 300 years, with land shipping costs reduced by 95-97% and sea shipping costs by 99%. This reduction has made the modern global economy possible, allowing for the widespread movement of goods and the creation of international supply chains.
“If you adjust for inflation using historical British data, which is very difficult to do over a 300-year period, the reduction in land shipping costs has been astonishing.”
“There are many variables, but the reduction in land shipping costs compared to an annual drawn wagon versus a modern semi would be close to 95% to 97% per ton mile.”
“And the amazing thing is, the cost of shipping by sea has gotten even cheaper. Given the massive cost advantages of container shipping and the incredible efficiencies of ultra-large ships, costs have dropped by 99%.”
“Cheap shipping made the modern global economy possible by allowing raw materials, food, fuel, and manufactured goods to move vast distances at low cost.”