Which countries dominate EU road freight transport?

Poland leads with 381.0 billion tonne-kilometres (20.2% of EU total), followed by Germany (277.4 billion; 14.7%), Spain (272.6 billion; 14.5%), France (172.9 billion; 9.2%), and Italy (161.7 billion; 8.6%). These five countries combined account for 67.1% of all EU road freight transport.

What percentage of EU road freight is international versus domestic?

National transport accounts for 62.2% of EU road freight, while international transport represents 24.4%, cross-trade 10.7%, and cabotage 2.7%. National transport increased 2.2% year-over-year, while international transport rose only 0.3%.

What are the largest bilateral freight flows in the EU?

Germany-Netherlands is the largest flow at 86.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany-Poland (68.4 million tonnes) and Belgium-France (55.9 million tonnes). Germany appears as origin or destination in 6 of the top 10 flows.

How does tonnage growth compare to tonne-kilometre growth?

Total tonnage transported increased 1.8% to 13.3 billion tonnes, outpacing the 0.9% growth in tonne-kilometres. This suggests goods are becoming heavier on average or loads are being optimized for efficiency.

Why did cross-trade and cabotage decline?

Cross-trade fell 3.7% and cabotage declined 3.0%, while national transport grew 2.2%. This indicates a stronger reliance on domestic distribution networks and potential shifts in consolidation patterns favoring national hubs over third-country carriers.

Shipping & Freight

Moderate

EU Road Freight Up 0.9% in 2025: Poland Leads Transport

Nov 14, 2026

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The signal

EU road freight transport showed modest growth in 2025, with total volume reaching 1,886 billion tonne-kilometres, a 0.9% increase year-over-year. The actual tonnage transported grew faster at 1.8%, indicating a shift toward heavier loads or more efficient utilization.

Poland solidified its position as Europe's largest road freight hub, accounting for over one-fifth of all EU transport volume. The data reveals a stable geographic distribution, with national transport accounting for over 62% of activity and intra-EU flows remaining critical to regional trade.

Germany's central role in cross-border logistics is underscored by its presence in 6 of the top 10 bilateral transport corridors. For supply chain professionals, these metrics provide a baseline for understanding European transport capacity utilization and identifying growth opportunities in key corridors.

How this affects:

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Frequently Asked Questions

What This Means for Your Supply Chain

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if Poland's transport volume increases by 5% due to reshoring?

Model a scenario where Polish road freight transport volume grows from 381.0 to 400+ billion tonne-kilometres driven by increased manufacturing capacity and nearshoring from Western Europe. Simulate capacity constraints on key corridors (Poland-Germany) and assess impact on transit times and carrier utilization.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

this week

What if international transport corridors face new regulatory delays?

Model increased dwell times on Germany-Netherlands and Germany-Poland routes due to enhanced border checks or environmental compliance. Simulate impact on intra-EU delivery times and carrier profitability on these critical 1st and 2nd largest flows.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

strategic

What if national transport consolidation reduces tonne-kilometres by 3%?

Simulate the effect of modal shift or hub consolidation where national freight distribution becomes more efficient, reducing total tonne-kilometres while maintaining or growing physical tonnage. Assess cost savings and service level impacts.

Run this scenario

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Shipping & FreightModerate

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