France road freight unloaded: international tonne-km
France road freight unloaded: international tonne-km stood at 5,687 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 | |
| Goods unloaded in France | 5,687 | 6,255 | 5,666 | 6,011 | 5,586 | 5,164 | 5,528 | 5,735 | 5,474 | 5,229 |
Understanding france road freight unloaded: international tonne-km
Enumerating inbound international transport performance, this metric aggregates tonne-kilometres for foreign-sourced goods unloaded from commercial vehicles upon arrival in the national territory. It measures the transport workload expended to bring imported commodities from foreign origins to their domestic destination points. This series isolates inbound international logistics from outbound export flows and domestic-only transit, providing a focused view of import-related road transport activity. It reflects the distance-weighted mass of incoming supply chains terminating within domestic borders.
Interpreting these statistics requires recognizing their sensitivity to domestic consumption patterns and import demand cycles, which can diverge sharply from domestic industrial output. Early estimates are subject to revision as data from foreign hauliers operating cross-border routes are fully integrated. Analysts should note that changes in routing or port entry points can alter tonne-kilometres even when import tonnages remain stable. Year-on-year comparisons are recommended to evaluate underlying trends, as sub-annual variations in import logistics are often heavily influenced by seasonal inventory restocking cycles.
Frequently asked questions
- What specific stage of the import process is captured by this series?
- It records the transport performance of goods brought into the country and unloaded from commercial vehicles.
- How does this row differ from the outbound loaded goods series?
- This row measures incoming cargo unloaded domestically, whereas the outbound series measures outgoing cargo loaded for foreign delivery.
- Why might import transport performance change independently of import values?
- Shifts in the geographic origin of imports change the transport distance, altering tonne-kilometres without necessarily changing the monetary value of goods.