Transport industry grows 4.4% in 2025 despite pricing volatility and weak confidence

Transport Sector Revenue Rises 4.4% in 2025, Marking Second Year of Growth

In 2025, revenue in the transport sector was 4.4% higher than in 2024, with growth across all subsectors, according to the latest figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This marks the second consecutive year of rising turnover in the industry.

The strongest growth was seen in storage and transport support services (up 4.9%), while waterborne transport recorded the smallest increase at 2.3%.

In the fourth quarter of 2025, transport companies generated 4.6% more revenue than in the same period the previous year. Since the first quarter of 2024, quarterly revenue has consistently exceeded year-earlier levels.

All subsectors saw revenue growth, led by postal and courier services (up 5.2%) and land transport providers (up 5.0%). Air transport experienced the smallest increase at 3.0%.

Transport and Storage Prices Up 2.4% in 2025

Prices for transport and storage services rose by 2.4% in 2025 compared to the previous year. In the fourth quarter, they were 2.5% higher than in the same period of 2024.

The steepest price hikes occurred in aviation support services, including airport fees and air traffic control charges (up 33.5%). Passenger transport fares, such as ferry services to England, increased by 10.2%.

Meanwhile, prices for maritime and coastal freight transport fell by 9.1% over the full year—the largest annual decline in 16 years. In the fourth quarter alone, prices were down 9.6% year-on-year. Charter rates for seagoing vessels also dropped by 2.4% in 2025.

Bankruptcies in Transport Sector Drop by a Quarter in 2025

The number of bankruptcies in the transport industry fell by 26% in 2025 compared to the previous year. In the fourth quarter of 2025, 55 transport companies went bankrupt—six fewer than in the previous quarter.

Business Confidence Declines at Start of 2026

At the beginning of 2026, business confidence in the transport sector stood at -4.7, down from -3.3 in the previous quarter.

Transport entrepreneurs are more pessimistic than the Dutch business average, with overall national confidence at -1.8.