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The transportation of goods on the inland waterways of Berlin and Brandenburg saw a significant decline in the first quarter of 2026. According to the Office for Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg, a total of 171,638 tons of goods were transported in Berlin, representing a decrease of 55.8% compared to the same period last year. In Brandenburg, the transported amount was 268,237 tons, which corresponds to a decline of 46.2%. The main reason for these declines is the adverse weather conditions, particularly the frozen waterways.
Declines in various goods departments
In Berlin, several goods departments recorded significant declines. The transportation of coal, crude oil, and natural gas fell by 60.5% to 78,782 tons. The departments for secondary raw materials and waste, as well as ores, stones, and earths, experienced declines of 66.6% and 62.9%, respectively. Only the department for metals and metal products was able to record an increase of 12.1%, amounting to 468 tons.
In Brandenburg, the declines were similarly severe. The department for agricultural and forestry products recorded a decline of 68.4% with 91,604 tons. Secondary raw materials and waste fell by 52.6%, while chemical products even decreased by 85.5%. Here too, there were only slight increases in the areas of metals and metal products, as well as other mineral products.
Ship flags and container handling
In Berlin, of the total 331 loaded ships, 59.8% sailed under the German flag, followed by 31.4% under the Polish flag. In Brandenburg, of the 418 counted ships, 52.6% were under the German flag, while 29.9% flew Polish flags. In both regions, no container handling was recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
The current figures highlight the challenges faced by inland shipping in the region, particularly due to weather conditions that significantly restrict transport capacities.
