**International Transport Dominates EU Waterway Freight Share**
Freight transport on the inland waterways of the European Union (EU) experienced a notable decline in 2025, reaching a total of 118.0 billion tonne-kilometres. This figure marks a three percent decrease, equivalent to a reduction of 3.7 billion tonne-kilometres compared to 2024, as reported by Eurostat.
The trend in inland waterway freight transport has seen significant fluctuations over the years. Between 2015 and 2017, the volume of freight transported remained relatively stable, hovering around 145 to 146 billion tonne-kilometres. However, in 2018, the sector faced a sharp decline, which was only partially mitigated by recoveries in 2019 and 2021. Despite these recoveries, the transport volume remained below the earlier peak levels. The decline accelerated from 2022 onwards, culminating in a low of 116.4 billion tonne-kilometres in 2023. A slight recovery was observed in 2024, with the figure rising to 121.6 billion tonne-kilometres.
In 2025, Germany and the Netherlands emerged as the leading contributors to EU inland waterway transport, accounting for a combined total of 84.9 billion tonne-kilometres. Germany recorded 42.7 billion tonne-kilometres, while the Netherlands closely followed with 42.2 billion tonne-kilometres. Together, these two countries comprised 71.9 percent of the total inland waterway transport within the EU.
A significant aspect of the 2025 data is the dominance of international transport, which constituted more than half of the total freight transport across the bloc, at 54.7 percent. In contrast, national transport made up 24.9 percent, and transit transport accounted for 20.4 percent. This trend highlights the increasing importance of cross-border logistics within the EU's inland waterway system.
Several EU countries exhibited varying degrees of reliance on international transport. Austria led the way, with international transport representing 74.0 percent of its total inland waterway freight. Germany and Belgium followed, with shares of 64.1 percent and 57.2 percent, respectively. Conversely, national transport was predominant in the Czech Republic (97.4 percent), Poland (82.2 percent), and France (60.2 percent). Additionally, Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden reported exclusively national transport in 2025.
Transit transport was particularly significant in several countries due to their geographical locations. Croatia recorded a high transit transport share of 97.2 percent, followed by Bulgaria at 92.8 percent, Luxembourg at 87.9 percent, Slovakia at 83.0 percent, and Hungary at 60.1 percent.
In terms of the types of goods transported, metal ores constituted the largest share, accounting for 22.2 percent of total transport measured in tonne-kilometres. This was followed by coke and refined petroleum products, which made up 16.2 percent, and chemicals, rubber, plastic, and nuclear fuel at 14.3 percent. Notably, the inland waterway transport of agricultural products saw the most significant decrease compared to 2024, dropping by 19.7 percent. In contrast, coal and crude petroleum experienced the largest increase in transport volume, rising by 21.3 percent during the same period.
The data from Eurostat provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of inland waterway transport in the EU, highlighting both the challenges and shifts in freight dynamics. As international transport continues to dominate the landscape, the reliance on inland waterways for freight movement remains a vital component of the EU's logistics and transportation framework.