Cargo theft threat escalates globally

The 2025 Cargo Theft Report, warns that escalating cargo theft is intensifying insurance risk and undermining port security.

“Our 2025 findings make clear that cargo theft is no longer a static or predictable threat,” said Mike Yarwood, managing director of loss prevention at TT Club.

“Criminal networks are adapting faster than ever, exploiting new commodities, new technologies, and new vulnerabilities across the entire supply chain.” 

Sophisticated networks

The research identifies increasingly sophisticated, organised criminal networks targeting road, rail, maritime and digital logistics channels, with incidents spanning key global markets including the United States, Brazil, India, and Germany.

It also reveals that trucks remain the primary target, accounting for around 70% of incidents, while insider involvement contributed to 22% of cases.

Food and beverage cargo was the most frequently stolen category, followed by electronics and automotive parts.

In North America, rail cargo theft increased sharply, driven by coordinated attacks linked to organised crime groups.

In Europe, warehouse and facility thefts surged, with the UK recording losses of US$149 million in 2024.

Meanwhile, Asia saw a rise in piracy and emerging threats such as rare earth mineral theft, compounding maritime port security concerns.

The report concludes that mitigating insurance risk requires intelligence-led strategies, including enhanced tracking technologies, stronger governance and improved cross-sector collaboration to counter evolving criminal tactics.