Date: 2025-12-02Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Increased Transport of Key Commodities Such as Steel, Iron Ore and Fertilisers Boosts November Rail Freight to 135.7 Million Tonnes, Up 4.2% from Last Year
**Executive Summary**
This report highlights the Indian Railways' increased freight loading in November 2025, reaching 135.7 million tonnes, a 4.2% increase from the previous year. The growth is attributed to key commodity segments like steel, iron ore, and fertilizers, contributing to India's economic goals and sustainable development. The cumulative freight loading up to November 2025 is 1,070.8 million tonnes, a 3.3% increase.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Overall Freight Loading:**
* November 2025 freight loading reached 135.7 million tonnes.
* This represents a 4.2% increase over November of the previous year (130.2 million tonnes).
* Cumulative freight loading up to November 2025 increased by 3.3% to 1,070.8 million tonnes.
* Indian Railways moved more freight in eight months of FY 2025–26 than in the entire year of 2013–14.
* **Key Commodity Segments:**
* Growth is primarily driven by the transport of:
* Pig Iron and Finished Steel (16%)
* Iron Ore (9.7%)
* Fertilisers (10.6%)
* Containers (6.8%)
* Balance Other Goods (23.6%)
* **Economic and Environmental Impact:**
* Rail transport supports India's aspiration to become a $5 trillion economy.
* It strengthens industrial supply chains and enables industries to grow sustainably.
* Rail transport costs nearly half as much as road transport.
* The shift to rail reduces carbon emissions, decongests highways, and offers a greener alternative.
* Aligns freight operations with the nation's Net Zero Carbon Emission goals.
**Impact Analysis**
**Businesses:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from reduced logistics costs, increased efficiency, and a more sustainable transport option.
* **Action Required:** Consider shifting more bulk goods transport to rail to leverage cost advantages and contribute to sustainability goals.
**Indian Railways:**
* **Impact:** Reinforces its role as a critical economic artery and key driver of economic and environmental progress.
* **Action Required:** Continue to optimize freight operations, focus on key commodity segments, and align with national sustainability goals.
**MSMEs:**
* **Impact:** Gain access to a greener and more reliable logistics alternative.
* **Action Required:** Explore rail transport options for moving goods.
**General Public:**
* **Impact:** Benefits from decongested highways, reduced carbon emissions, and a more sustainable transport ecosystem.
* **Action Required:** N/A
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: Primary entity responsible for rail transport, contributing to freight loading.
Ministry of Railways: Government ministry overseeing the Indian Railways.
Net Zero Carbon Emission: National goals related to reducing carbon emissions, impacting rail freight operations.
Ministry of Railways
Increased Transport of Key Commodities Such
as Steel, Iron Ore and Fertilisers Boosts
November Rail Freight to 135.7 Million Tonnes,
Up 4.2% from Last Year
प्रव तथ: 02 DEC 2025 4:19PM by PIB Delhi
As India advances toward its aspiration of becoming a $5 trillion economy, the need for efficient, reliable,
and scalable logistics remains central to this journey. Indian Railways, one of the nation’s most critical
economic arteries, is playing an increasingly pivotal role by moving goods and people at unprecedented
scale, reducing logistics costs, and enabling industries to grow faster and more sustainably. At the same
time, Indian Railways is meeting the mobility needs of a large and growing population, carrying over two
crore passengers every day, thereby reinforcing the backbone of India’s transport ecosystem.
On a cumulative basis up to November 2025, freight loading has risen by 3.3% to 1,070.8 million tonnes.
This milestone is particularly significant given that the Indian Railways has moved more freight in just
eight months of FY 2025–26 than it did in the entire year of 2013–14, when total loading stood at 1,055
million tonnes.
This sustained growth is strengthening industrial supply chains, supporting both domestic and
international trade, and providing a more sustainable, cost-efficient logistics ecosystem. With rail transport
costing nearly half as much as road transport, the impact of this cost advantage is further amplified—
creating substantial savings for businesses and contributing to broader economic gains.
As more bulk goods shift to rail, the benefits extend well beyond commercial performance. Rail transport
reduces carbon emissions, decongests highways, and offers industries—including MSMEs—a greener and
more reliable logistics alternative. This shift reinforces India’s commitment to sustainable growth, aligning
freight operations with the nation’s Net Zero Carbon Emission goals and further positioning Indian
Railways as a key driver of both economic and environmental progress.
In November 2025, Indian Railways recorded a freight loading of 135.7 million tonnes, representing a
4.2% increase over 130.2 million tonnes in the same month last year.
The growth has been primarily driven by significant gains in the transport of key commodity segments,
including Pig Iron and Finished Steel (16%), Iron Ore (9.7%), Fertilisers (10.6%), Containers (6.8%), and
Balance Other Goods (23.6%), reflecting healthy diversification in freight traffic.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Manik Sharma
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2197591) आगंतुक पटल : 635
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही