Due to its extremely important role in international maritime traffic, the starting point of this paper is the definition of shipping markets and shipping in general. The market is a permanent and organized way of getting in touch with demand for goods and services and as such, it is exposed to numerous economic, political and other factors. In this paper, we will find out which are the four markets without which seagoing would not be possible. Shipping is a special activity, which dates back to early beginnings of civilization, and it is based on organized transport of people and goods by sea. The reason for this is that the sea connects all land surfaces on Earth and therefore has a strong influence on the development of globalization. By analysing shipping markets, we will become familiar with its development and the concept and the business environment of the shipowner is described in the first chapters of the work.