The volume of inland waterways freight transport in Sweden has seen significant variation from 2016 to 2023. From a relatively low base in 2016 with 16 million tonne kilometers, the volume increased drastically in subsequent years, peaking notably in 2021 at 141 million tonne kilometers. The growth from 2016 to 2021 represents a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 48.57%. However, this growth saw a slight dip of -6.38% in 2022, only to recover with a substantial year-on-year increase of 19.7% by 2023. By 2023, the volume stood at 158 million tonne kilometers.
Future trends to watch for include:
• A continued steady increase in volume is forecasted, with a mooted CAGR of 8.29% from 2024 to 2028.
• Projected growth targets 268 million tonne kilometers by 2028.
• The overall 5-year growth rate forecast stands at 48.89%, indicating moderate but consistent growth in the inland waterways freight sector.
Monitoring economic conditions, infrastructure developments, environmental regulations, and technological advancements will be critical in validating these projections and adapting strategies accordingly.
