Inland Waterway Freight Transport in the EU Declines by 4.6% in 2023

In 2023, inland waterway freight transport in the EU saw a 4.6% decline compared to the previous year, translating to a reduction of 6 million tonne-kilometres. This follows a pattern of volatility observed in EU waterway transport over the last decade, with significant fluctuations noted between 2013 and 2023. After a period of decline from 2014 to 2016, there was a slight recovery in 2017, followed by a sharp fall in 2018 and a rebound in 2019. The most recent drop in 2022 was steep at 9.8%.

The most transported goods on EU inland waterways in 2023 were "metal ores," "coke and refined petroleum products," and "chemicals, rubber, and plastic." Together, these categories accounted for nearly two-thirds (65.3%) of all goods transported. There were notable changes in specific goods categories, with a decline in "coal and crude petroleum" and an increase in agricultural products.

In terms of freight transported per inhabitant, the Netherlands led with 18.4 tonnes per person, followed by Belgium and Luxembourg, while most other EU nations registered less than 2.5 tonnes per inhabitant. This data underscores the ongoing reliance on inland waterways in key EU nations, despite an overall decline in activity.