Last year the carriage of passengers and goods declined

In 2016, the number of passengers carried by Estonian road, sea, rail and air transport enterprises amounted to 207.5 million with the majority (92%) carried by road. In 2016, the passenger traffic volume of transport enterprises was 5.4 billion passenger-kilometres, and it decreased by 12% compared to the previous year.

The amount of passengers in road transport decreased by 4% compared to 2015. There were 190.9 million passengers in total and 86% of them, i.e. about 165.0 million passengers, used urban transport (incl. trams and trolleybuses). 2% less passengers used urban transport compared to the previous year. The number of passengers on county lines was about 15.7 million (9% less compared to 2015), and on domestic long-distance lines it was 4.2 million (down by 2%). 1.2 million passengers were carried on international lines (down by 13%). In 2016, the passenger traffic volume of road transport was around 3 billion passenger-kilometres and it decreased in both domestic and international traffic, by 12% and 3%, respectively.

In 2016, Estonian sea transport enterprises carried 9.1 million passengers, which is 5% more than in 2015. The number of passengers carried was 2.3 million (up by 1%) in domestic sea traffic and 6.8 million (up by 7%) in international sea traffic. The passenger traffic volume of sea transport enterprises increased by 4%, and was nearly 1.2 billion passenger-kilometres in 2016. International sea traffic contributed 97% of passenger traffic volume.

Last year 6.9 million passengers were carried by rail, which is 4% more than in 2015. 6.8 million passengers were carried in domestic rail traffic (up by 3%) and 102,800 passengers were carried in international rail traffic (up by about two-fold). The passenger traffic volume of rail transport enterprises increased by 11% year over year, totalling 315.9 million passenger-kilometres.

In 2016, Estonian air transport enterprises carried 569,500 passengers. This is 15% less than in 2015. 9,500 passengers were carried in domestic air traffic (down by a half) and 560,000 passengers were carried in international air traffic (down by 14%). The passenger traffic volume of air transport enterprises decreased by 35% and was around 1 billion passenger-kilometres.

In 2016, Estonian road, rail, sea and air transport enterprises carried 65.4 million tonnes of goods, of which nearly 59% was carried by road and 39% by rail.

Freight turnover of Estonian transport enterprises totalled nearly 11.6 billion tonne-kilometres in 2016. Freight turnover increased by 1% compared to 2015.

Road transport companies carried 38.8 million tonnes of goods in 2016, which is 6% more than in 2015. In domestic road traffic, 31.1 million tonnes of goods were transported (up by 17%) and 7.7 million tonnes in international traffic (down by 25%). Freight turnover of road transport enterprises increased by 11% compared to 2015, and totalled 8.9 billion tonne-kilometres.

In 2016, the amount of goods carried by rail was 10% smaller than the year before, amounting to 25.4 million tonnes. 15.7 million tonnes of goods were transported in domestic rail traffic (up by 5%) and 9.6 million tonnes in international traffic (down by 26%). Compared to 2015, freight turnover of rail transport decreased by 25% and amounted to 2.3 billion tonne-kilometres. Of rail freight transport, 8.0 million tonnes were goods in transit, exports amounted to 0.2 million tonnes and imports to 1.4 million tonnes. Carriage of goods in transit by rail decreased by 29%, mainly due to a decrease of over 3.5 million tonnes in the transport of liquid refined petroleum products (2.2 million tonnes were carried in 2016). Goods in transit that experienced the highest growth were nitrogen compounds and fertilizers (excl. natural fertilizers) – these were carried in 2016 in the amount of 4.4 million tonnes, i.e. 14% more than in 2015.

The data of Estonian transport enterprises are collected and published according to the enterprise’s main economic activity. The enterprise’s main economic activity is determined based on the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK (NACE Rev. 2)): land transport (rail and road), water transport and air transport.

Road transport of passengers includes bus, trolleybus and tram transport. Urban transport includes passenger transport by buses, trams and trolleybuses.

Passenger traffic volume is the volume of work done in the transport of passengers. It is measured in passenger-kilometres (pkm). One passenger-kilometre is the transport of one person across a distance of one kilometre.

Freight turnover is the volume of work done in the transport of goods. It is measured in tonne-kilometres (tkm). One tonne-kilometre is the transport of one tonne of goods across a distance of one kilometre.

For the statistical activities on transport, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for performing these statistical activities.