One third of goods exported via inland shipping

More than 850 million tons of goods were imported to and exported from the Netherlands in 2002. Just over 175 million tons of these goods arrived or left on inland navigation vessels. Within the Netherlands, too, another 100 million tons of goods were transported on inland waterways.

Imports and exports of goods, 2002

One tenth of imports via inland shipping

In 2002 three-quarters of all goods arriving in the Netherlands from abroad arrived on a sea-going vessel. Inland vessels and road hauliers accounted for some 10 percent of international goods each.

The largest share of goods leaving the Netherlands left on inland waterways: one-third. After inland shipping, sea-going ships and pipelines are the main forms of transport.

Neighbouring countries

Half of imports into the Netherlands via inland shipping come from Germany; some 40 percent come from Belgium and 10 percent come from France.

Two-thirds of all goods that leave the Netherlands on inland vessels go to Germany, just over a quarter go to Belgium and less than 5 percent are destined for France and Switzerland.

Origin and destination of goods transported by inland shipping, 2002

Nearly 65 percent of bilateral transport is carried out by ships sailing under the Dutch flag. For goods imported into the Netherlands this is even three-quarters of goods.

Bulk goods

The transport of bulk goods is an important component of inland shipping. More than half of all internationally transported goods are iron ore, coal, liquid fuels, sand and gravel.

Main goods transported by inland shipping, 1997-2002

The share of coal in goods transported via inland shipping has risen considerably since 1997. The transport of special parcel goods accounts for an increasing share of inland cargos.

Huub Coninx

Source : StatLine (Dutch only)