Goods transport; modes and flows of transport to and from the Netherlands

Goods transport; modes and flows of transport to and from the Netherlands

Transport modes Periods Total goods transport (x mln ton) Domestic goods transport (x mln ton) Cross-border goods transport Total (x mln ton) Cross-border goods transport Incoming goods transport (x mln ton) Cross-border goods transport Outgoing goods transport (x mln ton)
Maritime transport 2010 568 . 568 402 166
Maritime transport 2011 533 . 533 385 147
Maritime transport 2012 552 . 552 385 167
Maritime transport 2013* 559 1 557 386 171
Maritime transport 2014* 572 2 570 396 174
Maritime transport 2015* 594 2 592 406 186
Maritime transport 2016* 589 2 587 398 189
Maritime transport 2017* 596 2 594 400 193
Maritime transport 2018* 605 3 602 406 196
Inland shipping 2010 302 103 199 66 133
Inland shipping 2011 306 106 201 66 134
Inland shipping 2012 301 102 200 68 131
Inland shipping 2013* 300 103 198 64 134
Inland shipping 2014* 310 110 200 64 136
Inland shipping 2015* 306 110 195 63 132
Inland shipping 2016* 306 113 193 65 127
Inland shipping 2017* 309 112 197 68 128
Inland shipping 2018* 304 119 185 65 120
Road transport 2010 705 526 179 87 92
Road transport 2011 705 522 183 90 94
Road transport 2012 681 502 179 87 93
Road transport 2013* 690 510 181 86 95
Road transport 2014* 692 509 183 88 96
Road transport 2015* 701 514 187 90 97
Road transport 2016* 730 536 194 94 101
Road transport 2017* 745 542 204 99 105
Road transport 2018* 756 555 201 96 105
Rail transport 2010 33 5 29 8 21
Rail transport 2011 37 6 32 8 23
Rail transport 2012 36 3 33 8 24
Rail transport 2013* 37 3 34 8 26
Rail transport 2014* 38 3 35 9 26
Rail transport 2015* 40 3 37 9 27
Rail transport 2016* 40 3 37 10 27
Rail transport 2017* 38 3 35 10 25
Rail transport 2018* 38 3 34 10 25
Air transport 2010 2 . 2 1 1
Air transport 2011 2 . 2 1 1
Air transport 2012 2 . 2 1 1
Air transport 2013* 2 0 2 1 1
Air transport 2014* 2 0 2 1 1
Air transport 2015* 2 0 2 1 1
Air transport 2016* 2 0 2 1 1
Air transport 2017* 2 0 2 1 1
Air transport 2018* 2 0 2 1 1
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains figures on transported loading weight of domestic (national) and cross-border (international) goods transport (excluding transport via the Netherlands). Figures are available for all transport modes (maritime transport, inland shipping, road transport, rail transport, air transport and pipeline transport).

Data available from: 1998

Status of the figures:
All figures up to and including 2012 are definitive, except figures on inland navigation for the years 2007-2009. Data on 2013 up to and including 2020 are of a preliminary nature.

Since data were compiled based on various statistics, in which there may have been slight adjustments, the figures may show minor deviations from the results published previously.

Figures on goods transport on Dutch roads by foreign vehicles are based on Eurostat data. Figures over the 4th quarter of 2020 on foreign road transporters from the United Kingdom have been estimated based on the data over the first three quarters.

Figures on maritime transport up to and including 2010 are based on gross-gross weight. As of 2011, this is gross weight, i.e. excluding the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. containers).

Changes as of 3 April 2024:
Over the period from 2013 onwards, a new observation and processing method on pipeline transport has started. From 2013 to 2022, the figures on cross-border pipeline transport have been adjusted and data on double pipeline transport has been added. For the years 1998 to 2012, international pipeline transport data is based on the old processing method and can only be used as an indication of transport.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will become available in the third quarter following the end of the previous calendar year.

Description topics

Total goods transport
The total transported loading weight in domestic and cross-border goods transport.

This concerns goods transport with both Dutch and foreign means of transport in relation to the Dutch territory with a loading or unloading place in the Netherlands.

This also includes domestic transport by foreign vehicles (cabotage by foreigners).
Cross-border goods transport does not include transport by Dutch vehicles that takes place entirely abroad (cabotage transport and cross-trade transport).

The loading weight of the transported goods is the gross-gross weight of goods:
The total weight of the goods carried, all packaging, and including the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. (air) containers, swap bodies and pallets for containing goods, as well as road goods vehicles, wagons or barges carried on or in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft).
Domestic goods transport
Goods transport where both the place of loading and the place of unloading are in the Netherlands.

This also includes domestic transport by foreign vehicles (cabotage by foreigners).

The loading weight of the transported goods is the gross-gross weight of goods:
The total weight of the goods carried, all packaging, and including the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. (air) containers, swap bodies and pallets for containing goods, as well as road goods vehicles, wagons or barges carried on or in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft).
Cross-border goods transport
Goods transport between the Netherlands and abroad, where either the place of loading or the place of unloading is outside the Netherlands.

Cross-border goods transport does not include transport by Dutch vehicles that takes place entirely abroad (cabotage transport and cross-trade transport).

The loading weight of the transported goods is the gross-gross weight of goods:
The total weight of the goods carried, all packaging, and including the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. (air) containers, swap bodies and pallets for containing goods, as well as road goods vehicles, wagons or barges carried on or in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft).
Total
Goods transport between the Netherlands and abroad, where either the place of loading or the place of unloading is outside the Netherlands.

Cross-border goods transport does not include transport by Dutch vehicles that takes place entirely abroad (cabotage transport and cross-trade transport).

The loading weight of the transported goods is the gross-gross weight of goods:
The total weight of the goods carried, all packaging, and including the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. (air) containers, swap bodies and pallets for containing goods, as well as road goods vehicles, wagons or barges carried on or in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft).
Incoming goods transport
International goods transport between a foreign place of loading and a Dutch place of unloading.

The loading weight of the transported goods is the gross-gross weight of goods:
The total weight of the goods carried, all packaging, and including the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. (air) containers, swap bodies and pallets for containing goods, as well as road goods vehicles, wagons or barges carried on or in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft).
Outgoing goods transport
International goods transport between a Dutch place of loading and a foreign place of unloading.

The loading weight of the transported goods is the gross-gross weight of goods:
The total weight of the goods carried, all packaging, and including the tare weight of the transport unit (e.g. (air) containers, swap bodies and pallets for containing goods, as well as road goods vehicles, wagons or barges carried on or in the vehicle, vessel or aircraft).