Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Size (2024 - 2029)

The Poland Rail Freight Transport Market is experiencing growth driven by substantial rail freight volumes and increasing cross-border trade, positioning it as the second-largest rail freight market in the EU. The market's capacity is bolstered by well-developed rail-road terminals, particularly in urban areas, and the strategic importance of Poland's borders with Belarus and Germany. The ongoing geopolitical changes, particularly the impact of the war in Ukraine, have necessitated a transformation in Poland's role in the international rail freight sector. This has led to increased investment and a commitment to sustainability within the railway industry, as it adapts to new trade routes and energy requirements.

Market Size of Poland Rail Freight Transport Industry

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Poland Rail Freight Transport Market - CAGR
Study Period 2020 - 2029
Base Year For Estimation 2023
Forecast Data Period 2024 - 2029
Historical Data Period 2020 - 2022
CAGR 4.50 %
Market Concentration Low

Major Players

Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Major Players

*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

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Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Analysis

The size of the Poland Rail Freight Transport Market is valued at around USD 1.55 billion in the current year and is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 4.5% during the forecast period. The market is driven by the huge volume of rail freight in the country. Furthermore, the market is driven by increasing cross-border trade.

  • Poland is the second-largest rail freight market in the EU. The German rail freight market continued to be the largest with 108 billion tkm in 2020. The Polish rail freight market accounted for 52 billion tkm and was at the same mark as in 2004 and 2008. Practically the only segment of rail freight in the volume increased is container transport. Significant growth was seen in the volume of rail container transport, reaching 2.7 million TEU in 2020.
  • Poland was the second largest contributor to the rail freight transport performance in the EU after Germany, with 54 billion tkm in 2021, which was followed by France with 36 billion tkm. In mid-June 2021, 41 public-service rail-road terminals operated in Poland. The overall handling capacity of these terminals is 9.2 million TEU, of which 4.2 million TEU of 35 land terminals. About 50% of land rail-road terminals' capacity is concentrated in three urban areas: Katowice, Poznań and Warsaw, and another 10% around Wrocław and Łódź.
  • Three leading intermodal operators owning (or/and managing) the road-rail terminals are HHLA/Metrans (Polonia), PKP Cargo Group and PCC Intermodal. Concerning international trade, the Polish Eastern and Western borders, respectively with Belarus and Germany, are well developed. The Polish borders with Belarus and Germany were the busiest in 2021, with respectively 9,399 and 6,193 trains crossing.
  • Due to the impact of the war in Ukraine on the growth of the intermodal transport volume along the New Silk Road, 307.2 thousand TEUs were transported via Poland from China to Europe, 8.7% less than last year, in the first half of 2022. In the past few months of 2022, rail freight between Poland and Ukraine has taken on a whole new role. Several terminals were added to the network to facilitate the new trade route this summer, such as in Mostyska, Zamość and Sosnowiec. These terminals have added much-needed capacity to the route. The new reality Poland is facing after the war on Ukraine was at the heart of the discussion at the Railfreight Summit 2022 in Warsaw, which was held on 7 & 8 September 2022.
  • Within a few months, the role of Poland in the international rail freight market changed completely. Whereas it used to be the gateway to Europe for traffic from Asia with the most heavily consumed border crossing on the New Silk Road, it needs to reinvent itself as a result of the war in Ukraine. In the years 2021-2027, the total value of investments in Polish rail transport is roughly estimated at EUR 16 billion (USD 16.94 Billion). By 2025, several major railway undertakings in Poland will use only renewable energy when moving freight on electrified mainlines. It is CTL Logistics that has become the first rail freight operator in the country to use the energy generated from the sun and wind. Moreover, the Polish railway sector is committed to significantly reducing the consumption of energy in the coming years.

Poland Rail Freight Transport Industry Segmentation

Rail freight transport is the use of railroads and trains to transport cargo as opposed to human passengers. A freight train, cargo train, or goods train is a group of freight cars or goods wagons hauled by one or more locomotives on a railway, transporting cargo all or some of the way between the shipper and the intended destination as part of the logistics chain. A complete background analysis of the Poland Rail Freight Transport Market, including the assessment of the economy and contribution of sectors in the economy, market overview, market size estimation for key segments, and emerging trends in the market segments, market dynamics, and geographical trends, and COVID-19 impact is included in the report.

The Poland Rail Freight Transport Market is segmented By Cargo Type (Containerized, Non-containerized, and Liquid Bulk), By Destination (Domestic and International), and By Service (Transportation and Services Allied to Transportation). The report offers the market size and forecasts in values (USD billion) for all the above segments.

By Cargo Type
Containerized (Includes Intermodal)
Non-containerized
Liquid Bulk
By Destination
Domestic
International
By Service
Transportation
Services Allied to Transportation (Maintenance of Railcars and Rail Tracks, Switching of Cargo, and Storage)
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Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Size Summary

The Poland Rail Freight Transport Market is a significant player within the European Union, being the second-largest rail freight market in the EU, following Germany. The market is characterized by a robust volume of rail freight, driven by increasing cross-border trade, particularly with Germany and Belarus. The intermodal transport segment, especially container transport, has seen notable growth, with Poland serving as a crucial hub for international trade routes. The market is consolidated, with major operators like PKP Cargo, Lotos Kolej, and DB Cargo Polska dominating the landscape. Despite the challenges posed by the shift towards road transport, which has seen a decline in rail's modal share, the Polish rail freight sector is poised for growth, supported by strategic investments and infrastructure developments.

The market's dynamics are influenced by geopolitical factors, such as the war in Ukraine, which has reshaped Poland's role in the international rail freight market. This has led to the expansion of rail networks and the establishment of new terminals to accommodate changing trade routes. The Polish rail sector is also embracing sustainability, with initiatives to use renewable energy for freight transport. The competitive landscape is evolving, with new players entering the market and existing operators seeking niche opportunities. Collaborative efforts, such as those between PKP Cargo and the Industrial Development Agency, aim to enhance rolling stock capabilities, further strengthening Poland's position in the rail freight industry.

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Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Size - Table of Contents

  1. 1. MARKET DYNAMICS

    1. 1.1 Market Drivers

    2. 1.2 Market Restraints

    3. 1.3 Market Opportunities

    4. 1.4 Value Chain / Supply Chain Analysis

    5. 1.5 Porter's Five Force Analysis

      1. 1.5.1 Threat of New Entrants

      2. 1.5.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers

      3. 1.5.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

      4. 1.5.4 Threat of Substitute Products

      5. 1.5.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

    6. 1.6 Impact of COVID-19 on the market

  2. 2. MARKET SEGMENTATION

    1. 2.1 By Cargo Type

      1. 2.1.1 Containerized (Includes Intermodal)

      2. 2.1.2 Non-containerized

      3. 2.1.3 Liquid Bulk

    2. 2.2 By Destination

      1. 2.2.1 Domestic

      2. 2.2.2 International

    3. 2.3 By Service

      1. 2.3.1 Transportation

      2. 2.3.2 Services Allied to Transportation (Maintenance of Railcars and Rail Tracks, Switching of Cargo, and Storage)

Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Size FAQs

The Poland Rail Freight Transport Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 4.5% during the forecast period (2024-2029)

PKP Cargo, Lotos Kolej, DB Cargo Polska, CTL Logistics and Freightliner are the major companies operating in the Poland Rail Freight Transport Market.

Poland Rail Freight Transport Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)