Two trucks on a bridge with cargo ship passing by.

In 2022, the EU members exported €305 billion worth of transport services to countries outside of the EU, marking a 40.2% increase compared with 2021. The sharp increase in services transport in 2022 was mainly due to a surge in sea transport, which can be attributed to the increase in the average freight rate.

The largest category was sea transport services, which accounted for 60.3% of the exports (€184 billion). Air transport ranked second with €65 billion (21.1%), followed by other modes of transport with €44 billion (14.3%), and postal and courier services with €13 billion (4.2%).

Extra-EU trade in transport services by mode of transport, 2010-2022, € billion. Chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: bop_its6_det

In 2022, all transport services recorded an increase in value compared with 2021. Air transport services experienced the highest growth at 73.9%, while sea transport increased by 37.3%, other modes of transport by 27.2%, and postal and courier services by 6.0%.

Main export partners in 2022

The largest exports from the EU to extra-EU countries in 2022 were to the United States (€55.6 billion, 18%), the United Kingdom (€39.1 billion, 13%), and Switzerland (€24.7 billion, 8%). China (€24.2 billion, 8%) and Singapore (€12.7 billion, 4%) completed the top 5.

Main EU partners for exports of transport services, 2022, € billion. Chart. See link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: bop_its6_det

Sea transport represented the majority of exports to the United States (62%), China (75%), and Singapore (83%). Sea transport and other modes of transport accounted for 44% and 41% respectively of EU exports of transport services to Swiss customers. 

Trade with the United Kingdom exhibited a more balanced distribution, with other modes of services accounting for 34%, air transport for 32%, and sea transport for 28% of exports of transport services.