In April 2022, mainly the freight transport by road slowed down, there were by 77% more passengers in passenger transport

The volume of goods transported in freight transport dropped by more than 7% in April after three months of year-on-year growth. In passenger transport, the number of passenger and transport distances rose dynamically, especially on the railways, but passengers travelled by 88% more passenger-kilometers than a year ago.

In April 2022, the total volume of freight transport decreased by 7.2% year-on-year and reached 20.2 million tons. More than two thirds of the volume of goods was transported by road. Freight transport companies, which have transport as their main or secondary business, transported 13.4 million tons of goods by road, which was 8.2% less than a year ago. Although transport is recovering, its current performance is only around 82% in the corresponding pre-pandemic period (April 2019).

Since the data from April 2022, the SOSR has adjusted the monthly outputs (tables) on road freight transport¹⁾ so that road transport is reported jointly for all enterprises, regardless of the main subject of activity.

On the other hand, the volume of goods transported by rail increased by 4.6% year-on-year, with one sixth of goods transported by rail. Other modes of transport (including transport via water, air or pipeline, warehousing and support activities) also recorded a more significant year-on-year decrease by more than 13%.

Download high resolution chart format PDF (86 kB) or PNG (76 kB).

Freight transport performance, which also takes into account the transport distance, reached 3.6 billion tonne-kilometres (tkm) in April this year which is approximately at the same level as a year ago and almost at the level of the corresponding period in 2019. The average transport distance of tons of transported goods increased year-on-year, by rail slightly decreased.

In total, in four months, a total volume of goods transported was higher by 2.3% than in the corresponding period of the previous year; after taking into account transport distances, performances were currently higher by 6.5% year-on-year.

The year-on-year growth in passenger transport was driven mainly by railways

At the same time, passenger transport continued in April 2022 for the fourth consecutive month, with a high year-on-year increase in the number of passengers. Their number increased by almost 60% year-on-year and reached 50.3 million people, which is the second highest number this year. The number of passengers increased more dynamically, especially on the railways, where the number of passengers doubled year-on-year. At the same time, half as many people were travelling by buses than a year ago.

In April 2022, passenger transport performances, which also take into account the length of roads, reached 634 million person-kilometers, compared to last year, it increased by almost 88%. The high year-on-year growth was mainly influenced by the increase in transport distances in railway transport. Year-on-year, the number of mileage increased by 170%. The average transport distance for one journey by rail was almost 51 km and for bus travel less than 8 km.

In total, in four months, by almost 77% more passengers were transported in passenger transport than in the corresponding period last year; after taking into account transport distances, the sum of journeys reached almost 88% higher number of passenger-kilometers.

Development of turnover, employment and wages in April 2022

Turnover²⁾ in the transportation and storage increased by 24.2% year-on-year in April. The result affected the growth of the most important land transport (including transport via pipeline) as well as the second largest division - warehousing and support activities. Turnover in air transport increased by 84 % year-on-year, but this type of transport is the less important division of the section. Turnover in water transport rose by 73,2 % and postal and courier activities by slightly more than 1%.

In the fourth month of 2022, employment in transportation and storage was higher by 3.8% year-on-year. Employment rose in all components of the sector, more significantly in water transport (by 23%) and air transport (by 55%).

The average nominal monthly wage in this section reached EUR 1 160 in April, which was 5.7% more than a year ago. The real wage in the section (after taking into account inflation) dropped by 5.5%.