Transport methods used for extra-EU exports 2000-2023

In international trade with the rest of the world, exporters from the European Union use a mix of methods to transport their goods to external trade partners. Sea freight is the most widely used transportation method for exports from the European Union, as this method allows for transporting large volumes of cargo at low costs. The rise of shipping containers and sophisticated port infrastructure to deal with containerization since the mid-20th century has made this the preferred method of export. Sea transport usage dropped in 2020, largely due to the issues with backlogs at ports during the Coronavirus pandemic, which greatly reduced the speed with which goods could be transported by sea.

Air freight is used for time-sensitive or high-value cargo, such as electronics or pharmaceuticals, with this method being much faster but more expensive than sea freight. Road freight, on the other hand is largely used for short-distance or regional transportation within the European Union. For extra-EU trade, road transport is mainly used for transporting goods from the EU to neighboring countries. Rail freight is used for longer distances within the European Union and for transporting goods to countries that have a well-developed rail network, such as Russia and China.

Annual share of European Union goods exports to countries outside the EU by transportation method from 2000 to 2023

Characteristic	Sea	Road	Rail	Air	Inland Waterway	Unknown	Fixed Mechanism	Self Propulsion	Post
2023	74.14%	16.02%	3.66%	2.54%	1.57%	1.1%	0.88%	0.09%	0%
2022	74.93%	16.22%	2.77%	2.17%	1.32%	0.99%	0.42%	1.17%	0%
2021	75.7%	17.78%	2.73%	1.5%	1.14%	0.15%	0.94%	0.07%	0%
2020	73.54%	18.16%	2.43%	1.22%	1.31%	2.21%	1.05%	0.07%	0.01%
2019	80.19%	12.75%	2.5%	2.35%	1.13%	0.12%	0.85%	0.1%	0%
2018	80.65%	12.74%	2.51%	2.27%	0.84%	0.09%	0.83%	0.08%	0%
2017	80.37%	12.81%	2.75%	2.24%	1%	0.09%	0.66%	0.07%	0%
2016	80.86%	12.54%	2.6%	2.3%	0.93%	0.26%	0.44%	0.05%	0%
2015	80.35%	12.72%	2.69%	2.39%	1.21%	0.15%	0.43%	0.05%	0.01%
2014	79.38%	13.37%	2.8%	2.39%	1.34%	0.11%	0.46%	0.16%	0%
2013	78.47%	14.05%	3.02%	2.19%	1.47%	0.09%	0.54%	0.16%	0%
2012	78.32%	14.14%	3.39%	1.63%	1.45%	0.15%	0.68%	0.24%	0%
2011	77.42%	14.93%	3.54%	1.8%	1.12%	0.14%	0.64%	0.4%	0%
2010	76.9%	14.61%	3.56%	1.78%	1.71%	0.46%	0.73%	0.24%	0%
2009	76.74%	14.59%	3.6%	1.88%	1.6%	0.4%	0.78%	0.4%	0%
2008	74.64%	15.71%	4.6%	2.06%	1.56%	0.16%	0.68%	0.59%	0.01%
2007	72.96%	16.26%	4.61%	2.2%	1.7%	1.02%	0.81%	0.43%	0.01%
2006	69.69%	17.65%	5.1%	1.81%	2.05%	2.04%	0.93%	0.73%	0.01%
2005	71.44%	17.07%	5.38%	1.47%	2.26%	0.98%	0.95%	0.45%	0.01%
2004	69.98%	17.59%	4.63%	1.12%	1.74%	3.63%	0.9%	0.4%	0.01%
2003	68.87%	19.6%	3.63%	0.97%	1.74%	3.58%	1.35%	0.26%	0.01%
2002	68.3%	19.49%	3.99%	1.03%	1.99%	3.83%	1.02%	0.35%	0%
2001	68.38%	19.91%	4.24%	1.15%	2%	2.85%	1.09%	0.38%	0.01%
2000	71.02%	18.42%	4.48%	1.06%	2.58%	1.14%	1.02%	0.28%	0.01%

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Release date

April 2024

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Region

Europe, EU

Survey time period

2000 to 2023

Supplementary notes

*Self propulsion refers to methods of transportation which use permanent propulsion and steering, such as sea-faring barges.

**Fixed mechanism refers to methods of transportation such as pipelines, where the mode of transport is fixed in place and the goods travel along the transport infrastructure.

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