Indian Railways freight surges past 1-billion-tonne milestone, powering industrial growth and sustainable logistics

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU    

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 22, 2025

Indian Railways has crossed a major milestone in its freight operations, with cumulative loading for the year surpassing the 1-billion-tonne mark and reaching an impressive 1020 Million Tonnes (MT) as of 19 November. This achievement not only underscores the Railways’ strengthened operational efficiency but also highlights its expanding role in bolstering India’s economic momentum.

The robust performance reflects strong sectoral support, with coal continuing to dominate at 505 MT, followed by iron ore at 115 MT, cement at 92 MT, container traffic at 59 MT, pig iron and finished steel at 47 MT, fertilisers at 42 MT, mineral oil at 32 MT, foodgrains at 30 MT, raw materials for steel plants at around 20 MT, and the remaining 74 MT coming from other goods. Daily freight loading has climbed to approximately 4.4 MT — an improvement over last year’s 4.2 MT — signalling both steady demand and enhanced operational responsiveness.

Freight movement from April to October further reinforces this upward trajectory, with Railways achieving 935.1 MT in 2025 compared to 906.9 MT during the same period last year, reflecting a healthy year-on-year growth. The combination of sustained momentum and higher daily loading rates showcases Railways’ expanding capacity to support India’s industrial expansion and infrastructure-led development.

Given the essential role of cement in national infrastructure, Indian Railways has introduced focused reforms to optimise logistics in this segment. The rollout of the Policy for Bulk Cement Terminals along with rationalised rates for moving bulk cement in containers marks a decisive step towards modernising freight ecosystems. These interventions are designed to boost handling capacity, cut transit time, and reduce logistics costs, offering significant advantages to industry stakeholders and consumers while enhancing the efficiency of the overall value chain. Such targeted measures are set to catalyse transformational change across the cement sector.

Beyond economic gains, the continued shift of bulk goods movement from road to rail brings far-reaching environmental benefits. It reduces carbon emissions, eases highway congestion, and opens greener logistics avenues for industries including MSMEs. These developments affirm India’s commitment to sustainable growth, firmly aligning Railways’ freight operations with the nation’s Net Zero Carbon Emission goals and reinforcing its position as a vital driver of both economic advancement and environmental stewardship.