EU inland waterways freight transport drops in 2023

In 2023, the freight transport performance in the EU inland waterways decreased by 4.6% (or 6 million tonne-kilometres) compared with 2022, according to the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

Between 2013 and 2023, transport activity on the EU’s inland waterways was volatile. Activity decreased each year over the period 2014-2016. A slight increase was observed in 2017 (+0.5%) followed by a sharp fall in 2018 (-10.9%) and an immediate rebound in 2019 (+6.6%). In 2022, another sharp decline was recorded with a drop of 9.8%.

Metal ores on top

The main types of goods transported in 2023 were metal ores, coke and refined petroleum products, chemicals, rubber and plastic, nuclear fuel and products of agriculture.

These categories accounted for almost two-thirds (65.3%) of all goods transported on EU inland waterways.

Compared with 2022, the largest changes in the share of the different goods types in total transport performance were recorded for coal and crude petroleum with a decrease of 2.3%, and products of agriculture (an increase of 1.3%).

Highest volume in The Netherlands

Looking at the volume of freight transported per inhabitant, at the EU level, on average 1.0 tonnes were transported on inland waterways.

The Netherlands had the highest volume with 18.4 tonnes per inhabitant, followed by Belgium (13.6 tonnes per inhabitant) and Luxembourg (7.2 tonnes per inhabitant). All other countries registered less than 2.5 tonnes per inhabitant in 2023.