River freight declined in France in 2023, slowed down by construction and cereals

“With 43,4 million tonnes transported in 2023, the equivalent of 2.170.000 trucks, river transport will have made it possible to avoid the emission of 390.000 tonnes of CO2”, VNF nevertheless welcomed in its communicated.

“All sectors have been impacted by the contraction in French economic activity,” said the network manager. But construction and grain transport “remain the main sectors of the French river sector and account for around two thirds of the goods transported”.

The production of construction materials fell by 8,2% in France last year and the river transport of these goods therefore contracted by 7,2%.

For the agri-food sector, the volume of goods transported, made up of 40% soft wheat, fell by 12,5%.

This is the second consecutive year of decline in activity for river transport in France, which had already declined by 6,6% in 2022.

The manager of river activities nevertheless highlighted two reasons for satisfaction: the development of urban logistics and the progression of container transport on the Seine.

Urban logistics experienced “a surge” in 2023, according to VNF, “with nearly 150.000 tonnes transported in the Paris area, or 10.000 trucks removed from the roads”.

This represents an increase in this activity of 40% compared to the previous year. “Activity has multiplied by 2,2 in five years and is developing in all areas: Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon and soon in Rouen and Mulhouse,” welcomed VNF.

Container transport increased by 2% on the Seine, but declined elsewhere (-14,5% on the Rhine, -9% on the Rhône-Saône axis).

In 2024, VNF plans to invest 310 million euros to maintain the 6.700 km of navigable network but also to modernize the infrastructure. Work is planned on the dams and reservoirs in order to increase the water storage capacity of the establishment to 190 million m3, compared to 165 million today.