TT Club and BSI Consulting have released their 2025 Cargo Theft Report, highlighting a sharp escalation in cargo crime worldwide. The report points to a more complex and adaptive threat landscape, with criminal networks increasingly leveraging technology and adjusting tactics in response to changing economic conditions. Brazil, Mexico, India, the United States, Indonesia, Chile, China, Germany and South Africa were identified as having the highest cargo theft incident volumes.
Food and beverage cargo remained the most targeted commodity category, followed by agriculture, electronics and building materials. Trucks continued to account for around 70 per cent of global incidents, while 22 per cent involved insider theft. In North America, rail-related theft rose from 4 per cent in 2024 to 10 per cent in 2025, with organised groups increasingly targeting containers in transit. In Europe, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France and Spain saw the highest volumes.
In the UK, losses reached $149 million in 2024, with a $9 million smartphone theft at Heathrow Airport among the year's headline incidents. Maritime risks also intensified, with sea piracy increasing 85 per cent in the first half of 2025. Mike Yarwood, Managing Director of Loss Prevention at TT Club, emphasised that as criminal groups evolve their tactics the industry must shift toward proactive risk management. Jim Yarbrough, Global Supply Chain Solutions Director for BSI Consulting, added that the data reinforces the need for commodity-specific risk assessment, enhanced GPS tracking and cyber resilience.
Key Takeaways:
1. The TT Club / BSI Consulting 2025 Cargo Theft Report documents a sharp surge in global cargo crime.
2. Food and beverage is the most-targeted category, followed by agriculture, electronics and building materials.
3. In North America, rail-related theft rose from 4% in 2024 to 10% in 2025.
4. UK losses hit $149M in 2024, including a $9M smartphone theft at Heathrow Airport.
5. Sea piracy jumped 85% in the first half of 2025, adding a fresh risk vector for shippers.
