According to Eurostat data published on 24 September to mark World Maritime Day, the European Union imported 1.1 billion tonnes of goods from non-EU countries by sea in 2025, worth €1,270 billion. Exports shipped by sea totalled 0.5 billion tonnes, worth €1,069 billion.
Ships carry the weight, planes the value
By weight, maritime transport accounted for 73.3% of imports and 72.6% of exports. By value its share was smaller: 50.2% of imports and 40.4% of exports.
Air transport shows the opposite pattern. Only 0.3% of imports and 2.9% of exports by weight went by air, yet these shipments made up 20.7% of import value and 29.1% of export value. Road transport also weighs more in value (19.5% of imports and 24.9% of exports) than in volume (6.0% and 17.4%). Rail is the reverse: 2.6% and 2.9% by volume, 1.2% and 1.3% by value.
Why it matters for Hungary
Hungary has no seaport, so goods arriving by ship usually reach the country by rail or road from ports in other member states. Disruption at major European ports and changes in sea freight rates can therefore show up in Hungarian supply chains and prices.
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Budapest Global Review: Nearly three quarters of EU goods imports arrive by sea. Budapest Global Review, 26 September 2026. https://globalreview.hu/en/cikk/eu-tengeri-kereskedelem