In 2023, Russia significantly led the global international rail freight market, accounting for the largest share of loaded national freight volumes. Kazakhstan and Ukraine followed, although Ukraine recorded a year-on-year decrease of 2.37%. Strong growth was observed in Italy (3.64%) and Bulgaria (2.43%), contrary to steep declines in Latvia (-7%) and Finland (-16.42%). Over the last five years, most countries experienced modest to moderate annual growth rates, with notable contractions in Finland and Macedonia.
Future trends to watch include the anticipated growth in countries investing in rail infrastructure, like Italy and Romania, and potential recovery in previously declining markets such as Finland and Ukraine. Additionally, geopolitical factors and sustainability concerns may increasingly influence the international rail freight sector dynamics.
Top countries in International Rail Freight Volume Loaded Nationally Share by Country (Thousand Metric Tons)
| # | 10 Countries | Percent | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Russia | 46.42 | 2023 | +1.13% | +0.91% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Kazakhstan | 13.18 | 2023 | +1.6% | +1.49% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Ukraine | 8.75 | 2023 | -2.75% | -2.37% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Belarus | 5.3 | 2023 | +1.54% | +1.59% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Germany | 4.48 | 2023 | +0.35% | +0.3% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Italy | 2.62 | 2023 | +2.91% | +3.64% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Sweden | 2.49 | 2023 | +0.87% | +0.78% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Netherlands | 2.22 | 2023 | -0.51% | -0.25% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Czech Republic | 1.88 | 2023 | +0.33% | +0.13% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Poland | 1.78 | 2023 | +0.48% | +1.2% | View data |
