France cross-trade road freight: tonnes
France cross-trade road freight: tonnes stood at 1,196 thousand tonnes 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 | 1,558,467 | 1,548,138 | 1,545,239 | 1,631,139 | 1,648,948 | 1,508,016 | 1,634,946 | 1,619,364 | 1,714,292 | 1,727,611 | |
| International transport | 43,769 | 43,259 | 40,299 | 43,952 | 42,357 | 38,807 | 39,186 | 43,295 | 43,471 | 41,582 | |
| Cross-trade | 1,196 | 709 | 878 | 884 | 579 | 522 | 801 | 592 | 600 | 622 |
Understanding france cross-trade road freight: tonnes
Bilateral transport operations performed by national hauliers between two foreign countries, or international transport operations performed outside their home country, are tallied in this thousand tonnes series. This specialized trade category captures third-country logistics where neither the loading nor unloading takes place in the home territory. It stands apart from standard import and export flows because the national fleet acts as an independent cross-border carrier abroad.
Reading this series requires understanding international transport permits, cabotage rules, and the operational footprint of the domestic trucking industry in foreign markets. Because these activities depend on foreign commercial agreements, they can experience volatility disconnected from domestic economic indicators. Analysts look to this measure to gauge the international competitiveness and operational reach of domestic transport firms.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines cross-trade in the context of road freight statistics?
- Cross-trade involves transport between two different countries performed by a vehicle registered in a third country.
- Is domestic freight included in this cross-trade category?
- No, domestic transport within foreign countries falls under cabotage or local foreign statistics, whereas cross-trade specifically crosses an international border outside the home state.
- Why is cross-trade freight tracked separately from standard exports?
- It measures the revenue-generating services provided by the national transport fleet entirely outside national borders.