France cross-trade road freight: tonne-kilometres
France cross-trade road freight: tonne-kilometres stood at 449 million tonne-km in 2025, according to SDES – Service des données et études statistiques (Ministère de la Transition écologique). It is one of the indicators in the Freight transport (annual) table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1999 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Freight transport (annual) table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total road freight transport | 172,907 | 174,015 | 169,240 | 173,353 | 174,853 | 169,663 | 174,061 | 171,875 | 167,691 | 155,843 | |
| International transport | 12,925 | 13,310 | 11,927 | 12,818 | 12,280 | 11,504 | 11,557 | 12,251 | 11,815 | 11,638 | |
| Cross-trade | 449 | 304 | 311 | 309 | 272 | 261 | 236 | 219 | 274 | 261 |
Understanding france cross-trade road freight: tonne-kilometres
Capturing bilateral transport operations performed by national hauliers between two foreign countries, this metric records cross-trade tonne-kilometres executed entirely outside domestic borders. It measures international haulage where neither the loading nor unloading point is located within the national territory, yet the transport enterprise is registered domestically. This specialized category separates third-country operational performance from domestic distribution and direct import-export routes. It reflects the international competitiveness and cross-border mobility of resident transport operators active in foreign logistics markets.
Evaluating this indicator demands caution due to its niche operational scope and high sensitivity to foreign regulatory changes and bilateral transport agreements. Revisions to these figures frequently occur because tracking operations outside national borders relies heavily on specialized survey instruments and foreign partner data sharing. Analysts should not compare cross-trade performance directly with domestic transport metrics, as the operating environments and cost structures are entirely distinct. Annual comparisons offer the most reliable trend assessment, insulating the analysis from short-term volatility in foreign contracting and spot market assignments.
Frequently asked questions
- Are shipments that start or end in the home country included in cross-trade?
- No, cross-trade strictly involves transport between two foreign countries where the home country is neither the origin nor the destination.
- Which transport operators generate the data captured in this series?
- Resident transport enterprises of the home country performing haulage entirely outside national borders generate these figures.
- Why are revisions common in cross-trade transport statistics?
- Tracking transport executed entirely abroad relies on complex international surveys that take longer to compile and reconcile.