| 2010 | 35.5 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 39.2 |
| 2012 | 37.6 |
| 2013 | 38.9 |
| 2014 | 39.4 |
| 2015 | 41.7 |
| 2016 | 42.6 |
| 2017 | 41.2 |
| 2018 | 41.6 |
| 2019 | 42.7 |
| 2020 | 40.0 |
| 2021 | 42.6 |
| 2022 | 44.5 |
| 2023 | 39.3 |
Containers account for nearly 44 percent of rail freight by weight. Container freight decreased by 11.5 percent from 2023 to 17.3 millions tonnes. The number of containers also decreased by 11.5 percent. The majority of goods transported in container originate from or are headed for Germany and Italy. The volume of goods shipped in containers within the Netherlands decreased the most, from 2.2 to 1.6 million tonne (a decrease of 27.9 percent).
Rail transport of coal and metal ore is reduced
Coal and metal ore are the most common types cargo transported by rail to the Netherlands, after goods in containers. In 2023, rail transport of coal and metal ore will be down by 22.1 percent and 4.6 percent respectively. Rail transport of other common goods has also decreased compared to last year. The volume of chemicals was down 3.7 per cent, and that of metals (including the steel) was down 10 per cent.
| Containerized goods | 17.3 | 19.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Coal, lignite and crude oil and natural Gas | 7.5 | 9.6 |
| Metal ores and other mineral deposits | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Chemical products and synthetic fibres | 3.2 | 3.3 |
|
Metals in their primary form and metal Machines and equipment (excl. Machines and equipment |
2.1 | 2.3 |
| Other goods | 4.7 | 4.9 |
Freight volumes declining in both directions
Most rail freight is loaded in the Netherlands, and then unloaded abroad. The volume of freight exports fell to 24,0 million tonnes in 2023. This represents a 12.0% decline compared to the previous year. The amount of coal shipped to Germany dropped by 22.3%.
The total amount of freight that arrived from Germany was 10.1 million tonnes, a drop of 4.0 percent. This decline was mainly due to the decrease in goods in containers (down 10.1%) and metal ores and minerals (down 38.3%). Imports of agricultural, forestry and fishing products in bulk increased by 45.3% in 2023. This group includes maize and cereal crops.
Last year, both domestic transport and transit trade (goods transported from the Netherlands to two locations outside of the Netherlands via the Dutch rail system) decreased by 27.3 and 15.8 percent respectively.
| Outbound | 24 | 27.2 |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound | 10.1 | 10.5 |
| Domestic | 2.3 | 3.2 |
| Transit | 3 | 3.6 |