Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 3.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €11.0bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
The decline in demand is exacerbating cost pressure and forcing rail freight transport providers to increase efficiency
- In the first half of 2025, transport performance in German rail freight transport fell by 22.8% compared to the same period of the previous year, according to Deutsche Bahn. The decline in the volume of freight transported by DB Cargo signals weaker demand and falling capacity utilisation. The development confirms the ongoing tense situation within the industry, which has been characterised by low profitability and intense competitive pressure for some time now.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The planned track access charge increase jeopardises the competitiveness of the industry
- Grail freight transport in Germany is currently under considerable pressure due to the planned 16.2% increase in track access charges. Several market players and DB companies have filed a complaint against the new 2025 track access charge system, which was approved by the Federal Network Agency in December 2024. The focus is on both the approval authority's decision and the unusually strict German legal framework in the European context, which requires DB InfraGo to fully cover its operating costs and make a profit. The final extent of the price increase remains open until the court clarification.
Biggest companies in the Freight Rail Transport in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
DB Cargo AG | 6,200.0 | |
SBB Cargo Deutschland GmbH | 93.0 | |
TX Logistik AG | 82.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Transport of metals and metal products, Transport of mining products and Transport of chemical products. Transport of metals and metal products is the largest segment of the Freight Rail Transport in Germany.
Trends and Insights
The transport of metals and metal products, in particular tinplate rolls for packaging production, dominates current industry turnover
- The transport of metals and steel and their products will account for the largest share of industry turnover in the current year. For example, goods trains are often used to transport rolls of tinplate.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry comprises freight transport by rail vehicles. Services such as the operation of freight railway stations, the actual freight handling process and warehousing are not part of the industry.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany include Transport of metals and metal products, Transport of mining products, Transport of chemical products and Transport of other goods.Companies
Companies covered in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany include DB Cargo AG, SBB Cargo Deutschland GmbH and TX Logistik AG.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany include intermodal transport, intermodal competition, revenue management, tonne-kilometres, frachtrate, single wagonload transport, whole train transport and combined transport.Industry Code
WZ 49.20 - Freight Rail Transport in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The European Union has expressed serious concerns about state subsidies for the railways in France and Germany. Deutsche Bahn could be forced to cede parts of its business to...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The transport of metals and steel and products made from them accounts for the largest share of industry revenue. A similarly large share is generated by the transport of min...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The eastern region has the largest proportion of companies in the sector. This is partly due to the fact that there are many logistics centres there, which often also have a ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Most of the industry players work as subcontractors for one of the relatively few companies in the sector that also operate freight railways themselves. Only DB Cargo has a d...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
DB Cargo has developed a transport solution for large quantities of hydrogen. This development is part of the response to the growing demand for hydrogen as an energy source ...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of DB Cargo AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of SBB Cargo Deutschland GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of TX Logistik AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for DB Cargo AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for SBB Cargo Deutschland GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for TX Logistik AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Increasing production volumes offer the industry growth potential. If industrial production increases, more goods also need to be transported, from which the rail freight com...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Only negative profit margins have been achieved in the last five years. This is due to structural problems such as an overloaded railway network and the only major player in ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany in 2025?
The market size of the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany is €11.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 186 businesses in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 3.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany are DB Cargo AG, SBB Cargo Deutschland GmbH and TX Logistik AG
What does the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany include?
Transport of metals and metal products and Transport of mining products are part of the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany is DB Cargo AG.
How competitive is the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Freight Rail Transport industry in Germany.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
