Around two-thirds (67%) of all freight transport (in tonne-kilometers) within the European Union in 2024 was by sea. The data was released by Eurostat , which adds that road freight transport accounted for 25,7%.
The data also shows that rail transport accounted for 5,4% of all transport carried out. In addition, inland waterways represented 1,7% and air transport accounted for 0,2%.
The figures indicate that, compared to 2014, road transport was the only mode with an increasing share, rising by 3,3 percentage points (pp). In fact, the share of maritime transport decreased slightly by 2,5 pp. Similarly, rail transport registered a decline of 0,3 pp and inland waterways of 0,5 pp. Furthermore, there was no change in air transport.
Maritime transport was the main mode of freight transport in 15 of the 22 coastal countries of the European Union. In nine countries, it accounted for more than 70% of freight transport.
14 countries recorded a decline compared to the previous decade. Finland (-12,4 pp), Sweden (-11,2 pp) and Romania (-7,2 pp) recorded the largest drops compared to 2014.
Road freight transport was the main mode of freight transport in 11 countries in 2024. Data collected by Eurostat indicate that, in the last ten years, 21 countries have registered an increase in this share. The highest increases were observed in Lithuania (+22,4 pp), Latvia (+22,0 pp) and Romania (+14,8 pp).
