Most freight transport in Cyprus takes place by sea

In 2021, maritime transport accounted for more than two-thirds (68%, 5 135 billion tonne-kilometres) of the EU’s freight transport, the lowest share recorded in the past decade according to data released by Eurostat.

Road transport accounted for a quarter (25%, 1 863 billion tkm), while rail (5%, 410 billion tkm), inland waterway (2%, 136 billion tkm) and air (0.2%, 15 billion tkm) transport each accounted for small shares of freight transport.

Maritime freight transport dominated in Cyprus as well, accounting for 97.8% in 2021. Road and air transport followed way behind with 2.1% and 0.1%.

Maritime transport has been the main transport mode for freight in Cyprus for at least the past decade. The lowest share recorded during this period was 96% in 2011 and the highest was 98% in 2015, while road transport had its peak in 2011 (3.5%) and its lowest point in 2015 (1.8%). Air transport has had a low share over the past ten years, staying at 0.1%.

In the EU, the share of maritime transport decreased slightly compared with 2020 (-1 percentage point; pp). It decreased more significantly compared with the year recording the highest share in the last decade, which was 2012 (-2 pp).

Meanwhile, the share of road transport in 2021 reached the highest share recorded in the past decade. It increased slightly compared with 2020 (+1 pp) and increased more significantly compared with the year recording the lowest share in the last decade, which was 2012 (+3 pp).

The share of rail transport also slightly increased in 2021 compared with 2020 (+0.2 pp) but remained lower compared with the year it recorded the highest share in the last decade, which was 2011 (-1 pp).

Inland waterway transport has remained stable since 2018, but slightly lower than the peak recorded in 2013 (-1 pp).

Air had the smallest share in freight transport and remained at 0.2% in the last decade.

Maritime was the main mode of freight transport for 15 EU members (out of 22 with a coastline) in 2021 and accounted for more than 70% of freight transport in 10 countries.

Meanwhile, road transport was the main mode of freight transport for 10 EU members and accounted for more than 70% in three countries: Luxembourg (84%), Czech Republic (77%) and Poland (70%).

Rail freight transport was the main mode for only one country: Lithuania (53%).