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Rail freight by commodity groups in 3Q 2020

28.12.2020

In 3Q 2020 the transport of bulk and unidentifiable goods increased. However, from the beginning of the year, as compared to 2019, the share of coal, aggregates and ores in the total weight of goods transported by rail decreased. In comparison to the previous years, the commodity groups transported mainly by intermodal carriers, such as unidentifiable goods, machines, devices, electrical and electronic equipment, transport equipment, furniture and other finished products, are gaining importance. In 3Q 2020 the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on rail freight was less visible. As compared to 2Q 2020 an increase in the total weight transported was recorded.

In 3Q 2020 a total of 56.9 m tonnes were transported and the transport performance was 13.4 bn tonne-km. It is 6.1 m tonnes and 1.4 bn tonne-km more than in 2Q 2020. However, when comparing the results year-on-year, in 3Q 2020 2.5 m tonnes of goods less than in 3Q 2019 were transported and the transport performance was lower by 0.5 bn tonne-km.

Nearly 20.6 m tonnes of goods of the commodity group “Coal, lignite, crude oil and natural gas” were transported and the transport performance was at 3.1 bn tonne km. As compared to 3Q 2019 it is a decrease by 8.4% in weight and by 15.5% in transport performance. However, as compared to 2Q 2020 the results were higher by 14.3% (2.6 m tonnes) and 12.7% (0.3 bn tonne-km) respectively.

In 3Q 2020 15.2 m tonnes were transported and 3.7 bn tonne-km were performed in the transport of metal ores and mining and quarrying products - this was a decrease compared to the third quarter of 2019 by 8.9% according to weight and 6.9% by transport performance, and compared to 2Q 2020, the increases amounted to 9.6% (1.3 m tonnes) and 10.9% (0.4 bn tonne-km), respectively.

- The fluctuations in transport of commodity groups show how after a very difficult period for the entire economy, there was a gradual return to transport by rail spurred, for instance, by demand of rail and road construction industries. In 3Q 2020 the transport of aggregates increased by nearly 7% as compared to the previous quarter. Moreover, an increase in transport for industrial and energy sectors is also visible - comments Ignacy Góra, the President of the Office of Rail Transport.

The aggregated data for January to September 2020 – when compared to the same period in 2019 – show that other commodity groups than coal, aggregates and ores were on rise. While the share of all other commodity groups in January to September 2019 was 34% in total weight carried, in 2020 it was 3.4% more. The value of transport performance changed even more – in 2020 it almost reached 50% for other commodity groups while in 2019 it was 5.6% less.

- When we compare data for 3Q 2020 with 2Q 2020, we can see that international rail freight contributed to better overall results in transport of goods. The first data we have on international transport show an increase in 3Q as compared to 2Q by 22% in weight carried and by 20% in transport performance. In domestic transport these values  rose by 7% and 5% respectively. The largest increases were recorded in import and transit - summarizes Ignacy Góra, the President of the Office of Rail Transport.

Detailed data on transport by commodity groups in 2020 can be found in the Freight statistics section.

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