In 2023, Russia dominated the global national rail freight volume with a share of 71.31 million tonne kilometers, followed by Kazakhstan at 9.82 million tonne kilometers, and Ukraine at 4.46 million tonne kilometers. Smaller yet significant volumes were recorded in Germany (4.24), Poland (3.11), and France (1.33). Countries like Italy (2.02% YoY growth), Croatia (2.39% YoY growth), and Kazakhstan (2.16% YoY growth) exhibited notable increases. Conversely, Belarus faced a significant decline with -2.84% YoY, and Macedonia’s rail freight volume dropped to nearly zero by 2023.
Future trends to watch include the ongoing recovery and potential growth in Eastern European countries, innovation and infrastructure investments in rail transport, and political dynamics affecting key players such as Ukraine and Russia. Sustainability initiatives and technological advancements are likely to play critical roles in shaping the landscape of global rail freight volumes.
Top countries in National Rail Freight Volume Share by Country (Million Tonne Kilometers)
| # | 10 Countries | Percent | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Russia | 71.31 | 2023 | +0.46% | +0.31% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Kazakhstan | 9.82 | 2023 | +2.28% | +2.16% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Ukraine | 4.46 | 2023 | -0.9% | -0.95% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Germany | 4.24 | 2023 | +0.58% | +0.14% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Poland | 3.11 | 2023 | +1.25% | +0.69% | View data |
| 6 | 6 France | 1.33 | 2023 | -0.75% | -0.7% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Sweden | 0.97 | 2023 | +0.092% | -0.56% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Italy | 0.79 | 2023 | +1.58% | +2.02% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Belarus | 0.65 | 2023 | -2.08% | -2.84% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Romania | 0.65 | 2023 | -0.62% | -0.43% | View data |