Transport methods used for extra-EU exports 2000-2021

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 2021

Characteristic	Sea	Air	Road	Self Propulsion*	Rail	Fixed Mechanism**	Inland Waterway	Post	Unknown
2021	43.64%	25.78%	25.03%	2.64%	1.82%	0.53%	0.16%	0.07%	0.32%
2020	41.2%	25.71%	26.44%	2.46%	1.78%	0.23%	0.18%	0.18%	1.82%
2019	45.24%	31.13%	18.04%	3.26%	1.23%	0.23%	0.16%	0.08%	0.63%
2018	46.77%	29.84%	17.76%	3.39%	1.24%	0.26%	0.12%	0.07%	0.56%
2017	47.48%	28.63%	18.28%	3.32%	1.29%	0.25%	0.13%	0.06%	0.55%
2016	47.43%	28.81%	18.08%	2.78%	1.21%	0.17%	0.12%	0.05%	1.34%
2015	48.04%	29.14%	17.51%	2.56%	1.06%	0.2%	0.17%	0.05%	1.25%
2014	48.95%	27.02%	19.06%	2.84%	1.24%	0.22%	0.26%	0.05%	0.38%
2013	47.54%	27.71%	19.71%	2.74%	1.36%	0.24%	0.32%	0.06%	0.33%
2012	48.85%	25.49%	20.5%	2.71%	1.43%	0.32%	0.32%	0.05%	0.32%
2011	47.37%	27.24%	20.55%	2.56%	1.44%	0.31%	0.23%	0.04%	0.26%
2010	47.09%	27.18%	20.53%	2.79%	1.5%	0.27%	0.31%	0.06%	0.27%
2009	46.61%	26.43%	21.57%	2.42%	1.61%	0.33%	0.29%	0.09%	0.65%
2008	47.17%	25.08%	22.08%	2.38%	1.85%	0.35%	0.38%	0.11%	0.6%
2007	45.2%	25.96%	22.6%	2.26%	1.74%	0.29%	0.39%	0.09%	1.48%
2006	43.31%	26.23%	22.69%	2.66%	1.79%	0.26%	0.47%	0.11%	2.48%
2005	42.9%	27.77%	22.05%	3.01%	1.91%	0.25%	0.52%	0.07%	1.52%
2004	40.71%	26.13%	21.7%	2.66%	2.14%	0.21%	0.36%	0.07%	6.03%
2003	39.59%	25.11%	24.53%	2.6%	2.22%	0.24%	0.33%	0.08%	5.29%
2002	39.59%	25.77%	23.89%	2.9%	1.99%	0.23%	0.36%	0.07%	5.21%
2001	39.23%	27.43%	23.75%	3.69%	1.96%	0.26%	0.39%	0.1%	3.19%
2000	40.13%	28.74%	23.52%	3.23%	2.1%	0.22%	0.5%	0.14%	1.42%

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Release date

January 2023

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Region

Europe, EU

Survey time period

2000 to 2021

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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