LUXEMBOURG – Maritime transport was the main mode of transport for trade in goods between the European Union and non-EU countries in 2025. Ships carried 73.3% of total imports and 72.6% of total exports by weight, according to Eurostat. Maritime transport accounted for a smaller share of trade value, while air freight represented a much larger share of value than of the physical volume transported.
In 2025, the EU imported 1.1 billion tonnes of goods by sea from non-EU countries, with a total value of €1,270 billion. Exports transported by sea amounted to 0.5 billion tonnes, worth €1,069 billion.
Maritime transport was therefore the dominant mode for the EU’s international trade in goods when measured by weight. In terms of value, it accounted for 50.2% of total imports and 40.4% of total exports.
Air freight accounts for small volumes but substantial trade value
Air transport represented only a small proportion of the physical volume of EU trade with non-EU countries in 2025. Just 0.3% of imports by weight and 2.9% of exports by weight were transported by air.
Its share of trade value was considerably higher. Air freight accounted for 20.7% of total import value and 29.1% of total export value.
Road transport plays a larger role in exports than imports
Road transport also accounted for a greater share of trade value than of physical volume.
Of all goods imported into the EU from non-EU countries in 2025, 6.0% by weight arrived by road. These goods represented 19.5% of total import value.
Road transport had a larger share of exports to non-EU countries, carrying 17.4% of export weight and accounting for 24.9% of export value.
Rail transport has a higher share by weight than by value
For rail transport, the relationship was reversed. Rail accounted for 2.6% of import weight and 2.9% of export weight.
Its share of trade value was lower, at 1.2% of imports and 1.3% of exports.
Eurostat published the figures on 24 September, World Maritime Day. The statistics cover trade in goods between the EU and non-EU countries, rather than goods transported between EU Member States.
