[PR02] Volume and structure of freight transport
Key message
Road freight transport in Slovenia has grown sharply since the country’s accession to the EU, with the volume of tonne-kilometres carried by Slovenian hauliers alone increasing more than 2.5 times between 2004 and 2024. After the pandemic-related slowdown, the volume of road freight transport returned to previous levels.
Overall, freight traffic and transport in Slovenia have shown constant growth since independence — in road, rail, and maritime transport — despite temporary economic difficulties in the EU during the 2008–2014 recession. The only exception is air freight, which has stagnated for years following a steep decline in 2008.
From an environmental perspective, the continued growth of road freight transit through Slovenia is alarming due to air pollution and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. It also exacerbates the growing problems of an overburdened road network.
Definition
This indicator shows the volume and modal split of freight transport in Slovenia and the modal split of passenger transport in selected EU countries. The data for Slovenia is presented by indices of the development of road and rail transport as well as port and air transport in the period 1990-2019. The data for selected European countries presents the volume and shares of tonne-kilometres in road, rail and inland waterway transport for the period 1990-2019.
A tonne-kilometre (tkm) is a unit of measure of freight transport representing the transport of one tonne of goods over a distance of one kilometre. In rail freight transport we distinguish between gross and net tonne-kilometres. A gross tonne-kilometre is a unit of measure representing the movement over the distance of one kilometre of one tonne of vehicle and its contents excluding the weight of tractive vehicle. A net tonne-kilometre is the sum of the tonnes carried multiplied by the distance travelled.
Charts
Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia: Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Slovenia 1992-2013 and SI-STAT Data portal (2025)
| Road goods transport[index (1990=100)] | Railway goods transport[index (1990=100)] | Maritime transport of goods [index (1990=100)] | Air transport of goods[index (1990=100)] | Road goods transport[tkm (mio)] | Railway goods transport[net tkm] | Maritime transport of goods [received and shipped goods (1000 t)] | Air transport of goods[prepeljano blago (t) ] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 4322 | 3246 | 4253 | 1670 |
| 1992 | 107.33 | 79.27 | 109.38 | 112.87 | 4639 | 2573 | 4652 | 1885 |
| 1993 | 106.34 | 69.69 | 121.30 | 246.65 | 4596 | 2262 | 5159 | 4119 |
| 1994 | 118.32 | 70.79 | 123.49 | 228.02 | 5114 | 2298 | 5252 | 3808 |
| 1995 | 131.49 | 88.76 | 157.82 | 232.16 | 5683 | 2881 | 6712 | 3877 |
| 1996 | 137.62 | 72.18 | 153.84 | 226.65 | 5948 | 2343 | 6543 | 3785 |
| 1997 | 139.17 | 80.81 | 170.94 | 224.25 | 6015 | 2623 | 7270 | 3745 |
| 1998 | 146.32 | 81.18 | 202.40 | 221.86 | 6324 | 2635 | 8608 | 3705 |
| 1999 | 150.39 | 79.36 | 196.03 | 248.32 | 6500 | 2576 | 8337 | 4147 |
| 2000 | 153.96 | 80.10 | 219.19 | 272.81 | 6654 | 2600 | 9322 | 4556 |
| 2001 | 162.77 | 80.25 | 219.94 | 249.88 | 7035 | 2605 | 9354 | 4173 |
| 2002 | 152.92 | 87.46 | 221.75 | 276.65 | 6609 | 2839 | 9431 | 4620 |
| 2003 | 162.89 | 92.98 | 259.49 | 230.78 | 7040 | 3018 | 11036 | 3854 |
| 2004 | 208.40 | 97.01 | 291.63 | 211.38 | 9007 | 3149 | 12403 | 3530 |
| 2005 | 255.25 | 99.97 | 307.22 | 181.74 | 11032 | 3245 | 13066 | 3035 |
| 2006 | 280.24 | 103.91 | 364.05 | 251.08 | 12112 | 3373 | 15483 | 4193 |
| 2007 | 317.77 | 111.00 | 372.75 | 270.06 | 13734 | 3603 | 15853 | 4510 |
| 2008 | 376.24 | 108.44 | 389.23 | 138.98 | 16261 | 3520 | 16554 | 2321 |
| 2009 | 341.55 | 86.78 | 314.04 | 111.02 | 14762 | 2817 | 13356 | 1854 |
| 2010 | 368.60 | 105.39 | 343.08 | 110.84 | 15931 | 3421 | 14591 | 1851 |
| 2011 | 380.36 | 115.59 | 380.86 | 115.99 | 16439 | 3752 | 16198 | 1937 |
| 2012 | 367.61 | 106.90 | 397.53 | 88.26 | 15888 | 3470 | 16907 | 1474 |
| 2013 | 368.00 | 117.04 | 404.04 | 75.27 | 15905 | 3799 | 17184 | 1257 |
| 2014 | 376.52 | 126.62 | 423.51 | 83.35 | 16273 | 4110 | 18012 | 1392 |
| 2015 | 414.44 | 128.62 | 468.63 | 79.16 | 17912 | 4175 | 19931 | 1322 |
| 2016 | 426.05 | 134.32 | 497.79 | 85.57 | 18414 | 4360 | 21171 | 1429 |
| 2017 | 481.58 | 157.98 | 524.59 | 109.64 | 20814 | 5128 | 22311 | 1831 |
| 2018 | 514.23 | 158.69 | 543.78 | 90.36 | 22225 | 5151 | 23127 | 1509 |
| 2019 | 555.56 | 163.02 | 519.96 | 24011.50 | 5291.50 | 22114 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 524.33 | 145.59 | 430.61 | 22661.60 | 4725.90 | 18314 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 577.69 | 152.09 | 471.67 | 24967.60 | 4937 | 20060 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 562.42 | 151.81 | 526.38 | 24307.70 | 4927.60 | 22387 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 521.24 | 142.62 | 497.01 | 22527.80 | 4629.40 | 21138 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 577.69 | 140.76 | 512.11 | 24967.60 | 4569.20 | 21780 | 0 |
Eurostat: Modal split of freight transport (2025)
| pipelines[%] | inland waterway transport[%] | rail transport[%] | road transport[%] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 6.60 | 20 | 73 |
| 2001 | 0 | 6.50 | 19 | 74 |
| 2002 | 0 | 6.30 | 19 | 75 |
| 2003 | 0 | 5.80 | 19 | 75 |
| 2004 | 0 | 5.90 | 18 | 76 |
| 2005 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 76 |
| 2006 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 76 |
| 2007 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 76 |
| 2008 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 76 |
| 2009 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 77 |
| 2010 | 0 | 6.50 | 17.10 | 76.40 |
| 2011 | 0 | 6.20 | 18.30 | 75.60 |
| 2012 | 0 | 6.70 | 18.10 | 75.30 |
| 2013 | 0 | 6.70 | 17.80 | 75.50 |
| 2014 | 0 | 6.60 | 18 | 75.40 |
| 2015 | 0 | 6.50 | 18.20 | 75.30 |
| 2016 | 0 | 6.20 | 18 | 75.80 |
| 2017 | 0 | 6 | 17.40 | 76.50 |
| 2018 | 0 | 5.40 | 17.80 | 76.80 |
| 2019 | 0 | 5.60 | 17 | 77.40 |
| 2020 | 3.90 | 5.60 | 16.10 | 74.40 |
| 2021 | 3.60 | 5.40 | 16.40 | 74.60 |
| 2022 | 3.80 | 4.90 | 16.60 | 74.80 |
| 2023 | 3.80 | 4.80 | 16.40 | 75 |
Modal split of freight transport (2025)
| pipelines[%] | inland waterway transport[%] | road transport[%] | railway trasport[%] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Malta | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Iceland | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Ireland | 0 | 0 | 99.32 | 0.68 |
| Greece | 0.16 | 0 | 98.69 | 1.15 |
| Spain | 3.80 | 0 | 92.12 | 4.08 |
| Denmark | 3.46 | 0 | 88.66 | 7.88 |
| France | 3.11 | 1.80 | 86.17 | 8.93 |
| Luxembourg | 0 | 6.94 | 85.73 | 7.32 |
| Italy | 4.69 | 0.00 | 83.85 | 11.45 |
| Portugal | 2.79 | 0 | 83.50 | 13.70 |
| Estonia | 0 | 0 | 79.59 | 20.41 |
| Finland | 0 | 0.62 | 77.41 | 21.97 |
| Czechia | 2.97 | 0.03 | 75.99 | 21.02 |
| EU-27 | 3.76 | 4.83 | 74.99 | 16.42 |
| Poland | 4.65 | 0.01 | 72.31 | 23.02 |
| Belgium | 2.21 | 9.80 | 71.20 | 16.79 |
| Germaniy | 2.68 | 6.43 | 70.88 | 20.01 |
| Sweden | 0 | 0.18 | 70.07 | 29.75 |
| Slovenia | 0 | 0 | 69.81 | 30.19 |
| Hungary | 6.43 | 2.97 | 66.99 | 23.61 |
| Croatia | 11.18 | 3.12 | 65.50 | 20.20 |
| Switzerland | 0.31 | 0.11 | 65.39 | 34.19 |
| Austria | 9.94 | 1.55 | 62.09 | 26.42 |
| Norway | 29.57 | 0 | 60.97 | 9.46 |
| Bulgaria | 3.24 | 17.30 | 60.92 | 18.53 |
| Lithuania | 0.54 | 0.07 | 60.51 | 38.87 |
| Slovakia | 15.01 | 2.21 | 56.93 | 25.85 |
| Latvia | 0 | 0 | 55.98 | 44.02 |
| Romania | 1.87 | 21.88 | 52.67 | 23.58 |
| Netherlands | 7.75 | 37.70 | 48.67 | 5.88 |
Statistical Pocketbook 2025, Performance of freight transport (2025)
VREDNOSTI od 2005 naprej so korigirane! (svetlo modra barva)
| Road transport[bil tkm] | Railway transport[bil tkm] | inland waterways[bil tkm] | pipe-lines[bil tkm] | sea transport[bil tkm] | Air transport of goods[bil tkm] | Total[bil tkm] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1127.16 | 374.82 | 121.92 | 103.81 | 671.37 | 1.42 | 2400.49 |
| 1996 | 1136.38 | 378.76 | 119.60 | 107.71 | 679.57 | 1.46 | 2423.48 |
| 1997 | 1182.48 | 394.35 | 127.72 | 107.67 | 698.90 | 1.55 | 2512.66 |
| 1998 | 1242.20 | 377.04 | 130.91 | 114.67 | 721.75 | 1.60 | 2588.17 |
| 1999 | 1294.36 | 367.11 | 128.62 | 113.21 | 742.84 | 1.63 | 2647.77 |
| 2000 | 1343.87 | 387.92 | 133.71 | 115.68 | 769.79 | 1.74 | 2752.71 |
| 2001 | 1389.25 | 369.25 | 132.42 | 122.38 | 781.50 | 1.74 | 2796.54 |
| 2002 | 1438.80 | 368.16 | 132.41 | 118.80 | 793.80 | 1.70 | 2853.68 |
| 2003 | 1440.54 | 376.31 | 123.44 | 121.20 | 807.28 | 1.72 | 2870.48 |
| 2004 | 1588.27 | 390.04 | 136.76 | 122.60 | 835.98 | 1.78 | 3075.43 |
| 2005 | 1588.15 | 394.60 | 138.61 | 126.81 | 844.47 | 1.83 | 3094.47 |
| 2006 | 1638.79 | 416.25 | 138.42 | 125.79 | 842.97 | 1.89 | 3164.10 |
| 2007 | 1697.64 | 430.72 | 145.40 | 118.22 | 842.93 | 1.95 | 3236.87 |
| 2008 | 1676.46 | 421.69 | 146.90 | 114.76 | 841.12 | 1.91 | 3202.85 |
| 2009 | 1515.32 | 344.37 | 132.61 | 111.63 | 769.76 | 1.81 | 2875.49 |
| 2010 | 1558.29 | 374.96 | 155.37 | 110.97 | 831.77 | 1.83 | 3033.19 |
| 2011 | 1541.63 | 401.12 | 141.83 | 108.27 | 850.14 | 1.83 | 3044.82 |
| 2012 | 1481.69 | 392.46 | 149.82 | 104.98 | 838.42 | 1.81 | 2969.19 |
| 2013 | 1516.36 | 390.71 | 152.58 | 102.08 | 850.98 | 1.81 | 3014.53 |
| 2014 | 1527.43 | 395.52 | 150.71 | 101.09 | 875.12 | 2.10 | 3051.96 |
| 2015 | 1561.99 | 405.10 | 147.35 | 104.15 | 875.84 | 2.13 | 3096.55 |
| 2016 | 1619.75 | 418.01 | 146.61 | 104.70 | 913.35 | 2.13 | 3204.54 |
| 2017 | 1707.31 | 416.81 | 147.22 | 104.02 | 921.98 | 2.15 | 3299.49 |
| 2018 | 1707.50 | 422.62 | 131.30 | 104.11 | 978.67 | 2.19 | 3346.39 |
| 2019 | 1764.79 | 415.22 | 139.70 | 101.01 | 980.11 | 2.30 | 3403.13 |
| 2020 | 1745.33 | 383.99 | 131.74 | 91.73 | 928.68 | 2.04 | 3283.52 |
| 2021 | 1862.22 | 414.91 | 136.08 | 88.68 | 956.02 | 2.37 | 3460.28 |
| 2022 | 1866.30 | 413.38 | 122.08 | 93.67 | 982.56 | 2.30 | 3480.29 |
| 2023 | 1807.45 | 395.76 | 116.42 | 90.51 | 1020.85 | 2.19 | 3433.17 |
Methodology
- SURS, 2004. Glosar za statistiko transporta. Prevod dela: Glossary for transport statistics (UNECE, ECMT, Eurostat). Ljubljana, Statistični urad RS.