Inland waterways - statistics on container transport
Data extracted in June 2023.
Planned article update: 16 September 2024.
Highlights
Inland waterway transport of containers, EU, 2012-2022
This article presents the latest statistical data on inland waterway transport of containers in the European Union (EU) and other countries connected to the EU inland waterway network. With Sweden also fulfilling the requirements for mandatory reporting since 2022, now 13 Member States have a legal obligation to provide data for inland waterway transport, where transport of goods by containers is one category of cargo classification. Eurostat disseminates data on container transport by type of goods (annual data) and on container transport by nationality of vessels (quarterly data). This article is based on annual data. For an overview on the total annual and quarterly inland waterway transport, please refer to the Statistics Explained article Inland waterway freight transport - quarterly and annual data.
Full article
Transport of containers by inland waterways decreased in 2022
In the EU, the share of container transport in total inland waterway transport performance (in tonne kilometres) increased constantly between 2012 and 2017; exceeding 10 % (see Figure 1) in 2014, followed by slight decrease in 2015, and reaching 11.0 % in 2017. In 2018, this share lost 0.6 percentage points (pp), and in 2019 another 0.3 pp, falling to 10.1 %. A rebound was observed in 2020, with a share of 10.4 %, but it was immediately followed by a drop of 0.4 pp in 2021 to 10.0 % and by a further drop of 0.2 pp in the 2022 resulting in 9.8 %.
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(% share of total inland waterway freight transport, based on tonne-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_atygo) and (iww_go_actygo)
Movements of empty containers in the EU in terms of twenty-foot equivalent unit kilometres (TEU-km) increased continuously between 2012 and 2015, reaching a peak of 611 million TEU-km (see Figure 2). In 2016, a substantial fall by 7.6 % was observed, immediately followed by a slight rebound in 2017 (+1.7 %). In 2018, 2019 and 2020, three consecutive sharp declines were registered (-14.8 %, -10.3 % and -5.0 %, respectively). A rebound of 3.7 % in 2021, reaching 432 million TEU-km, was followed by a decrease by 6.5 % down to 405 million TEU-km in 2022. These 405 million TEU-km in 2022 mark the lowest performance for empty containers over the 10 year-period between 2012 and 2022.
When looking at movements of loaded containers, the picture is slightly different (see Figure 2). Transport performance increased for two consecutive years between 2012 and 2014. In 2015, movements of loaded containers fell by 4.6 %. Then, a positive trend was observed in 2016 and 2017, to reach a peak of 1.1 billion TEU-km in 2017. Similarly to empty containers, a downturn was registered in both 2018 and 2020 (-5.4 % and -4.8 %, respectively), while stable levels were registered in 2019. In 2021, a growth of 4.4 % was observed and another decline by 8.9 % was recorded in 2022. The value for 2022 is only slightly higher than the lowest value in the period 2012-2022, which was recorded in 2012. Altogether, the transport performance of loaded and empty containers in TEU-km decreased by 8.2 % in 2022 compared with 2021, resulting in 1.4 billion TEU-km.
It should be noted that Sweden reported data on containers for the first time in 2022. Therefore, 2022 data reported by Sweden have been excluded when calculating the change rates between 2021 and 2022 at EU level.
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(million TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
The international transport of containers dominates national or transit transport (see Figure 3). It accounted for over a half of the container transport performance (in TEU-km), every year between 2012 and 2017, except in 2016 (49.4 %). The highest share was observed in 2012 with 52.2 %. International transport evolution was quite erratic with several drops observed since 2012 when comparing with the previous year. The most noticeable decrease was registered in 2018, with a 10.5 % decline compared with 2017. This downwards trend continued in 2019 (-2.8 %) and 2020 (-4.2 %). In 2021, a slight rebound was observed, with a 1.4 % increase, followed by a sharp 9.3 % decline in 2022. Thus, year 2022 marks the lowest international transport performance of containers for the period 2012-2022.
National transport of containers came second in terms of performance (in TEU-km) closely followed by transit transport. National transport has increased every year since 2012, except in 2016 (-0.7 %), 2020 (-4.9 %). In 2022, national transport fell by 5.8 % compared with 2021. The most noticeable increase was registered in 2021, with a 10.8 % growth compared with 2020. When looking at transit transport, there was a steady increase between 2012 and 2014, followed by a strong fall in 2015 (-6.4 %). In the two subsequent years, a rebound was observed. However, in 2018, 2019 and 2020, significant falls were registered (-15.3 %, -10.8 % and -6.4 %, respectively). In 2021, there was a slight increase by 0.9 %, followed by a sharp decline, down 9.7 % in 2022.
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(million TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
Whilst the transport performance of loaded containers, in TEU-km, decreased by 8.9 % in 2022 (see Table 1), there was a smaller fall of 5.9 % when looking at TEUs (see Table 2). The decrease of loaded container transport was an average result of the drop in all types of transport. National transport recorded the largest decline for TEU-kilometres (-10.4 %) and for TEUs (-5.9nbsp;%). International transport also decreased in both units (-7.7 % for TEU-km and -5.7 % for TEUs). Finally, transit transport, measured only in TEU-km, fell by 9.7 %.
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(thousand TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
At country level, the Netherlands and Germany were by far the main contributors to the inland waterway transport performance of loaded containers (in TEU-km) in 2022, followed by France and Belgium (see Table 1). Altogether, these four countries represented almost 100 % of the total movements of loaded containers in the EU, when expressed in TEU-km. Amongst these four countries, national transport was predominant in France and Belgium, at 90.8 % and 58.9 % of the total transport of loaded containers, respectively. In the Netherlands, the shares of national and international transport were closer to parity with 36.3 % and 35.1 %, respectively. In Germany, international transport dominated, with 76.0 %, while national transport represented 6.3 %. In the Netherlands and Germany, transit transport was quite significant, with shares at 28.6 % and 17.7 %, respectively, whereas it was less than 1 % in Belgium and France.
When looking at transport of loaded containers in TEUs, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France represented also here almost 100 % of the total movements of loaded containers in the EU. Amongst these four countries, national transport was predominant in France and the Netherlands, at 65.6 % and 41.9 % of the total transport of loaded containers, respectively; whereas international transport in these two countries represented 34.4 % and 36.5 %, respectively. In Germany and Belgium, international transport dominated, with 81.8 % and 66.4 %, respectively. Transit transport was significant only in the Netherlands and Germany, with shares at 21.6 % and 7.6 %, respectively; whereas it was less than 1 % in Belgium and France. This reflects the significance of these countries as hosts for major transit ports or as a major source or destination for container movements (Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg).
In 2022, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary recorded significant growths in their inland waterway transport of loaded containers. It should be noted that the contribution of these countries to the total EU figures is still very low. The shares of all four countries were 0.4 %, based on TEU-km, and 0.2 %, based on TEU, of the total movements of loaded containers in the EU.
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(TEUs)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
In 2022, movements of empty containers declined by 6.5 % (see Table 3) in terms of TEU-km but to a lesser extent in terms of TEUs, by 4.7 % (see Table 4). The decrease of empty container transport was mainly a result of the fall of international transport (-13.1 % for TEU-km and -15.7 % for TEUs). Transit transport, measured only in TEU-km, also decreased by 9.7 %. Concerning national transport, there was an increase of 3.0 % for TEU-km and a slight growth of 1.6 % for TEUs.
At country level, the Netherlands and Germany were again by far the main contributors to the inland waterway transport performance of empty containers (in TEU-km) in 2022, followed by France and Belgium (see Table 3). Altogether, these four countries represented more than 98 % of the total movements of empty containers in the EU, when expressed in TEU-km. Amongst these four countries, national transport was predominant in France (93.5 % of the total transport of empty containers), Belgium (72.1 % ) and the Netherlands (51.5 % ). In Germany, international transport dominated, with 75.9 %, while national and transit transport represented 13.0 % and 11.1 %, respectively. In the Netherlands, international transport represented 32.0 %; in Belgium 27.2 %; and in France 6.5 %. At 16.5 %, transit transport was significant in the Netherlands. In Belgium and France, it was less than 1 %.
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(thousand TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
When analysing the transport of empty containers in TEUs, (see Table 4), the Netherlands contributed at 53 % to the EU total and Germany accounted for 20 %. Belgium also had a predominant role with 18 % contribution to the total EU values. France followed with 8 %. Again, altogether, these four countries represented more than 99 % of the total movements of empty containers in the EU, when expressed in TEUs. Amongst these four countries, national transport was predominant in France and the Netherlands, at 74.3 % and 53.4 % of the total transport of empty containers, respectively; while international transport represented 25.7 % and 33.6 %, respectively. In Germany, international transport dominated, with 74.6 %, while in Belgium national and international types of transport were close to parity with 49.1 % and 49.2 %, respectively. Transit transport was significant only in the Netherlands and Germany, with shares at 13.0 % and 4.8 %, respectively. On the contrary, it was 1.7 % in Belgium and less than 1 % in France.
In 2022, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Hungary registered substantial increases of empty containers transport. The summed share of these countries constituted 0.3 % of the total empty container transport (in TEU) in the EU, while their share accounted for 1.6 % of TEU-km. The latter reflects that fact that the distance of international journeys from eastern and central European regions is generally longer than that between northern and western European countries.
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(TEUs)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
At EU level, 70.5 % of TEU-km counted for shipment of loaded containers in 2022 (see Figure 4). Sweden (89.9 %), Belgium (72.1 %), Germany (71.5 %) and the Netherlands (70.9 %) exceeded the EU level in 2022. France reported just below the EU level with 64.2 %, and was followed by Romania with 45.9 %, while the remaining countries had much lower shares; Luxembourg: 17.8 %, Bulgaria: 14.0 %, Croatia: 1.7 % and Hungary 1.0 %. Austria reported only empty containers. Countries with exclusively or very high levels of empty containers transported on inland waterways reported methodological clarifications related to the structure of their transport: the empty containers are transported on inland waterways from one port to another where they are loaded and then taken further by road or rail. In some cases, for instance in Austria, the empty containers themselves are considered as a good.
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(%, based on TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygo)
40-feet containers are predominant on EU inland waterways
In terms of the size of loaded containers being transported, 40-feet freight units were dominant at EU level, accounting for 78.1 % of all loaded containers (see Figure 5). Next most commonly-used type were the 20-feet containers with 19.8 %, while intermediate containers (>20-feet and <40-feet) accounted for just 1.0 % of the total and containers over 40-feet only 1.2 %. Only the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden reported movements of containers over 40-feet. The 40-feet freight unit is the most popular in all reporting countries (with a higher than 70 % share), except in Croatia and Luxembourg, where 20-feet was the most popular category (100 % and 67.2 % share, respectively).
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(%, based on TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_acsize)
For empty containers at EU level, the picture looked very similar, with intermediate (freight units >20-ft and <40-ft) and very large containers (freight units >40) accounting each for 0.8 % of the total transport performance of empty containers in TEU-km (see Figure 6). Containers of 40-feet were the most-commonly category reported in all countries, with the exception of Austria, where containers over 40-feet dominated (87.6 %). The other exceptions were Luxembourg and Sweden, which recorded a high percentage of 20-feet containers (58.5 % and 59.2 %, respectively).
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(%, based on TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_acsize)
Country-to-country flows dominated by the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium
Country-to-country flows in 2022 illustrated the dominance of the three main inland waterway countries: the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. The top six flows were between these three countries accounting for 83 % of the total flows in TEU-km (see Table 5). When looking at TEUs, the situation is similar, with the top six flows involving these three countries and accounting for 91 % of the total flows in TEUs (see Table 6). However, the ranking of these flows varied depending on whether transport is measured in TEUs or in TEU-km. For example, the Netherlands/Belgium flow moves in the ranking from position two in country-to-country flows by TEUs (see Table 6) to position five when measured by TEU-km (see Table 5). This is due to the proximity of the two countries and the short distances transported between them.
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(thousand TEU-kilometres)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygofl)
France is also included in the top 10 flows, with three appearances in positions seven, eight and nine when looking at TEU-km; the main flow being France/Netherlands, followed by the France/Belgium flow and the Netherlands/France flow (see Table 5). When looking at TEUs, France appeared also three times in top 10 flows with France/Belgium in the seventh position, followed by Belgium/France in the ninth position, and Netherlands/France in the 10th (see Table 6).
Switzerland was another country included in the top 10 flows in 2022. When looking at TEU-km, the flow Netherlands/Switzerland was in the 10th position (see Table 5), while at TEUs the flow Netherlands/Switzerland obtained the eighth position (see Table 6).
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(TEUs)
Source: Eurostat (iww_go_actygofl)
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
All figures presented in this article have been extracted from the Eurostat online inland waterways transport database. The related datasets are collected according to Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways. Regulation (EU) 2018/974 consolidated the initial Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways and all its implementing and amending legal acts: Commission Regulation (EC) No 425/2007 (implementing regulation), Commission Regulation (EC) No 1304/2007 (amending regulation) and Regulation (EU) 2016/1954 (amending regulation).
Regulation (EU) 2018/974 states that data must be supplied by all Member States for which the total volume of goods transported annually by inland waterways exceeds 1 million tonnes. Currently, 17 Member States provide data on a mandatory or voluntary basis: Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Czechia (CZ), Germany (DE), France (FR), Croatia (HR), Italy (IT), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Hungary (HU), the Netherlands (NL), Austria (AT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Slovakia (SK), Finland (FI) and Sweden (SE). Thirteen Member States (previously 12, but since 2022 also Sweden fulfils the requirements for mandatory reporting) have a legal obligation to provide data for inland waterway transport, where transport of goods by containers is one category of cargo classification. The legal act requires only the provision of a reduced annual dataset for countries exceeding the one million tonnes threshold but where no international or transit traffic exists.
Definitions
National inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport between two ports of a national territory irrespective of the nationality of vessel.
International inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport between two ports located in different national territories.
Transit inland waterway transport: Inland waterway transport through a national territory between two ports both located in another national territory or national territories provided that in the total journey within the national territory there is no transhipment.
TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) is a statistical unit based on an ISO container measuring 20 feet (6.10 m) to provide a standardised measure for counting containers of various capacities and for describing the capacity of container ships or terminals. One 20-feet ISO container equals 1 TEU.
EU includes data for all Member States that provide data.
Calculation of EU aggregates: In Tables 2 and 4, the EU international and total goods transport in TEUs is calculated excluding double counting. In order to achieve that, the EU total international transport is calculated by adding the international unloadings declared by the EU countries plus the international loadings for which the unloading country is not in the EU. Then, the EU total transport is calculated by adding the national transport and the total international transport.
For transit transport measured in TEUs, an EU aggregate equal to the sum of the country figures is not valid because volumes of freight transported are reported by all transit countries through which the transport takes place before reaching the unloading destination. Therefore, the same volume may be reported two, three, or more times without the possibility to eliminate multiple counting. At the same time, figures for transit transport are included in the EU national or international transport as they are reported not only by the transit countries but also by the loading and unloading countries. So, for the EU total volume, it is enough to sum the total national and international figures.
Country specific notes
Belgium: a break in time series can be observed in 2018 due to an improvement of the data collection system.
Italy: No data on inland waterway transport of containers available.
Lithuania: No data on inland waterway transport of containers available.
The Netherlands: due to a methodological change, data on containers were underestimated in 2009 and cannot be compared with other years.
Finland: There is no inland waterway transport of containers.
Sweden: Data were delivered on a voluntary basis until 2021. Only a simplified annual dataset was provided until 2021. Data on containers are available only from 2022.
Symbols
- ":" not available
- "-" not applicable
- "0" real zero
Context
The content of this statistical article is based on data collected within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways.
Direct access to
- Transport, see table under 'Inland waterways transport':
- Inland waterways transport (t_iww)
- Goods transport by inland waterways (ttr00007)
- Transport, see datasets under the following categories:
- Inland waterways transport (iww)
- Inland waterways transport infrastructure (iww_if)
- Inland waterways transport equipment (iww_eq)
- Inland waterways transport - Enterprises, economic performances and employment (iww_ec)
- Inland waterways transport measurement - goods (iww_go)
- Inland waterways - accidents (iww_ac)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways
- Summaries of EU legislation: EU statistics of goods transport by inland waterways
- Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 425/2007 (implementing regulation)
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1304/2007 (amending regulation)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1954 (amending regulation)