Freight transport on European Union inland waterways totaled 118.0 billion tonne-kilometres (tkm) in 2025, a 3.0% decrease (-3.7 billion tkm) compared to 2024, according to data released by Eurostat. The sector, which the EU has targeted for growth under its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy as a lower-emission alternative to road freight, continues to contract rather than expand.

The latest figures continue a longer-term downward trajectory. Between 2015 and 2017, EU inland waterway freight transport remained relatively steady at approximately 145–146 billion tkm. Volumes dropped sharply in 2018, then partially recovered in 2019 and 2021, though they never returned to earlier peaks. From 2022 onward, the decline accelerated, reaching a low of 116.4 billion tkm in 2023, before a modest rebound to 121.6 billion tkm in 2024.

Germany and the Netherlands remained the dominant contributors to EU inland waterway transport in 2025, recording 42.7 billion tkm and 42.2 billion tkm, respectively. Together, the two countries accounted for 71.9% of the EU total. Their dominance reflects the central role of the Rhine corridor, Europe's busiest inland waterway, which connects the Port of Rotterdam to Germany's industrial Ruhr region.

Eurostat published the data today. The findings are drawn from a more detailed Statistics Explained article on inland waterway freight transport.

International Transport Accounts for Over Half of Total

At the EU level, international transport represented the majority of total inland waterway transport in 2025, at 54.7%. National transport accounted for 24.9%, while transit transport made up 20.4%.

International transport held the highest share in five EU member states. Austria led with 74.0% of its inland waterway transport classified as international, followed by Germany at 64.1% and Belgium at 57.2%.

National transport was predominant in Czechia (97.4%), Poland (82.2%), and France (60.2%). Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden recorded exclusively national transport in 2025.

Transit transport accounted for the largest shares in several countries due to their geographical positions: Croatia (97.2%), Bulgaria (92.8%), Luxembourg (87.9%), Slovakia (83.0%), and Hungary (60.1%).

Metal Ores Lead Among Transported Goods

By cargo category, metal ores represented the largest share of total transport at 22.2%, measured in tonne-kilometres. Coke and refined petroleum products followed at 16.2%, with chemicals, rubber, plastic, and nuclear fuel at 14.3%.

Compared to 2024, inland waterway transport of agricultural products recorded the steepest decline at -19.7%. Coal and crude petroleum saw the largest increase, rising 21.3%, a shift consistent with changes in European energy trade flows following the reconfiguration of supply routes.

Source: Eurostat