Latvia's freight figures down; passenger numbers mixed

18.5 million tonnes of freight were carried by land transport, a decrease of 8.1 % compared to a year ago.

In Q1 2024 rail transport freight comprised 3.1 million tonnes, which is 29.5 % less than in Q1 2023. 

Freight by road comprised 15.4 million tonnes, which is 2.2 % less than in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In Q1 2024, no transportation of oil products via main oil products pipeline took place.

Freight transport by land and pipeline transport in Q1 (million tonnes)

In Q1 2024 the cargo loaded and unloaded at ports comprised 9.8 million tonnes, which is 11.3 % less than in Q1 2023. Freight turnover at Riga port was 4.7 million tonnes, 10.8 % less, at Ventspils port – 2.3 million tonnes or 25.2 % less, at Liepāja port – 2 million tonnes or 2.6 % more, but at minor ports – 0.8 million tonnes or 9.8 % more.

Freights loaded at ports comprised 7.6 million tonnes, which is 5.7 % more than in Q1 2023. Volume of freights in containers increased by 37.6 %, volume of grain and grain products – by 28.9 %, volume of timber – by 17.5 %, but of wood chips – by 56.8 %. In turn, volume of coals loaded reduced by 54.2 %, of roll on/roll off by 17.7 %, of oil products by 43 %.

2.2 million tonnes of freights were unloaded at ports, their volume fell by 42.7 %. Volume of unloaded freights in containers reduced by 25.6 %, of roll on/roll off by 14.6 %, of oil products by 43.7 %. But volume of ores unloaded increased by 39.8 %.

Riga International Airport loaded and unloaded 4 thousand tonnes of freights or 13 % less than in Q1 2023.

Passenger picture mixed

In Q1 2024, compared to Q1 2023, passenger traffic by train, tram, trolleybus and aircraft has risen, but by bus and ferry it reduced.

During Q1 2024, the number of passengers carried by land passenger transport comprised 46.6 million passengers, which is 2 % more than in Q1 2023.

The number of passengers carried by rail transport comprised 4 million, a rise of 8.9 %. The number of passengers carried by national transport rose by 8.5 %, but the number of passengers carried by international transport (due to the new route Vilnius-Riga) – 5.9 times.

25.1 million passengers were carried by regular bus traffic lines, which is 2 % less than a year ago. Number of passengers carried in national lines reduced by 2 %, but the number of passengers carried in international lines reduced – by 10.5 %.

The number of passengers carried by trolleybuses comprised 10 million passengers, a rise of 5 %, but by trams – 7.5 million passengers, a growth of 9.3 %.

Passenger traffic by road transport in Q1 (million passengers)

In Q1 2024, 69 thousand passengers arrived at and departed from Ventspils and Liepāja ports with ferries. Their number has dropped by 6.8 %, compared to Q1 2023. At Ventspils port passenger turnover comprised 51 thousand passengers, 13.5 % less, but at Liepāja port – 18 thousand passengers, which is 19.3 % more. Ferry traffic at Riga Passenger Terminal has been closed since 2021.

In Q1 2024, the number of passengers arrived at and departed from the Riga International Airport comprised 1.3 million, which is 5.3 % more than in Q1 2023.