Latvian rail freight numbers drop for second consecutive year

For the second year in a row, Latvia’s rail freight numbers have worsened significantly. In the first four months of 2024, the overall transported volume of rail freight declined by 25,3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Rail freight numbers have worsened across the board, according to data from the Latvian ministry of transport. In the first four months of 2024, 4,203 million tonnes of rail freight was transported on the Latvian network, which is 25,3 per cent lower than in the same period of 2023.

It is not the second consecutive year of worsening numbers for Latvian rail freight. Over the course of 2023, Latvia transported 15,636 million tonnes of rail freight. This is down 27,6 per cent from 2022.

Decline across the board

Rail freight volumes declined in all categories. International freight only amounted to 3,711 million tonnes, 27,2 per cent less than the previous year.

Transit volumes declined by 30,4 per cent to 3,19 million tonnes. Intermodal freight going through ports amounted to 2,881 million tonnes, almost a third lower than in 2023.

Lastly, volumes of rail freight destined for export amounted to 655,000 tonnes. This is 2,3 times less than during the first four months of 2023. Imports declined by 17,3 per cent to 2,747 million tonnes.

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