In the 9 months of 2025 freight transport by road and air increased

Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) data show that in first nine months of 2025, compared to first nine months of 2024, there was an increase in freight transport in Riga International Airport (of 6.5 %) and by road (2 %), but in freight transport by rail and at ports there was a decrease.

Riga International Airport loaded and unloaded 14.2 thousand tonnes of freights or 6.5 % more than in the nine months of 2024.

During the nine months of 2025, cargoes carried by land transport comprised 65.9 million  tonnes, which is 0.8 % less than in the nine months of 2024.

Refer to the OSP database:TRK030c, TRK120c

2 % more freights transported by road

Freights by road comprised 59.2 million tonnes, which is 2 % more than in the first nine months of 2024. Transportation of national freights comprised 46.4 million tonnes, 2.2 % more than in the corresponding period a year ago. Transportation of international freights accounted for 12.8 million tonnes – 1.3 % more. Of which export freight transport comprised 3.7 million tonnes, which is 10.5 % more. Transportation of import freight fell by 2.9 % and comprised 2.3 million tonnes of freight. In the nine months of 2024 cross-trade and cabotage freights comprised 6.8 million tonnes, which is 1.7 % less than in the nine months of 2023. 94.7 % of total road freights were transportation for hire or reward. They rose by 1.7 %.

Rail transport freights comprised 6.7 million tonnes, which is 19.8 % less than in the nine months of 2024. National freights by rail comprised 1.4 million tonnes – 1.8 % more. In international traffic the volume of freight transported by rail comprised 5.3 million tonnes, a drop of 24.1 %. Of which export freight transport – 1 million tonnes, 28.2 % less, import freight transport – 3.6 million tonnes, 28.1 % less, but goods in transit – 0.7 million tonnes, 18.2 % more. 

Freight transport by road transport in the nine months

(million tonnes)

Refer to the OSP database:TRK030c, TRK120c

Volume of liquid cargoes loaded at ports has gone up by 37 %

In the first nine months of 2025 the cargo loaded and unloaded at ports comprised 25.5 million tonnes, which is 1.9 % less than in the nine months of 2024. Freight turnover at Riga port was 12.3 million tonnes, which is 6.6 % less, at Ventspils port – 6.4 million tonnes or 14.7 % more, at Liepāja port – 5.1 million tonnes or 2.7 % less, but at minor ports – 1.7 million tonnes or 15.9 % less.

Freights loaded at ports comprised 18.1 million tonnes, which is 6.7 % less than in the nine months of 2024. 8.9 million tonnes of bulk cargoes were loaded (drop of 10.9 %), 2.3 million tonnes of liquid cargoes (rise of 37 %) and 6.9 million tonnes of general cargoes (fall of 10.7 %).

7.4 million tonnes of freights were unloaded at ports, their volume rose by 12.3 %. 2.6 million tonnes of bulk cargoes were unloaded (rise of 8.3 %), 2.1 million tonnes of liquid cargoes (rise of 26 %) and 2.7 million tonnes of general cargoes (growth of 6.9 %).

Methodological information

Data on freight transport are obtained through a full survey, except for road freight transport, where data are collected through a sample survey (the sample includes 120 trucks each week). The volume of road freight transport is obtained through a sample survey trucks, where the respondent is the owner or holder of the truck.

More information on freight transport is available in the official statistics portal section Freight transport.

Media requests:
Public Relations Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on the data:
Vida Lukaševiča
Environment Statistics Data Analysis and Dissemination Section
E-mail: Vida.Lukasevica@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366681