THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MARCH 6, 2026

Strong growth in the transportation of steel, iron ore and fertilizers helped Indian Railways earn freight revenue of ₹14,571 crore in February 2026, reflecting steady expansion in rail-based logistics and sustained demand from core industrial sectors across the country.

Indian Railways continued to play a crucial role in supporting the nation’s economic activity by ensuring efficient transportation of essential commodities such as coal, steel, fertilizers, cement, food grains and containers. Freight operations during February 2026 recorded steady growth compared with the same period last year, underlining the growing reliance of industries on rail logistics.

During February 2026, Indian Railways carried 137.72 million tonnes (MT) of freight, registering a 3.96 percent increase compared to 132.48 MT in February 2025. Freight revenue during the month stood at ₹14,571.99 crore, up from ₹14,151.96 crore in the corresponding month last year, reflecting a 2.97 percent growth.

Railways also reported improved transport output during the month. Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM), a key indicator of freight movement, reached 76,007 million NTKM in February 2026 compared with 72,955 million NTKM in February 2025, marking a growth of 4.18 percent.

A significant portion of freight traffic continued to be driven by core sector commodities. During the month, Indian Railways transported substantial volumes of coal, iron ore, finished steel, fertilizers, cement and container cargo. Growth in commodities such as finished steel, iron ore and fertilizers played a major role in strengthening overall freight performance.

Daily freight loading data indicated notable year-on-year growth in several key commodities. Iron ore loading stood at 0.675 million tonnes compared to 0.529 million tonnes last year, recording a sharp increase of 27.6 percent. Pig iron and finished steel loading reached 0.343 million tonnes compared with 0.284 million tonnes last year, registering a 20.8 percent rise. Raw materials for steel plants, excluding iron ore, grew to 0.141 million tonnes from 0.096 million tonnes, reflecting a significant growth of 46.9 percent.

Similarly, fertilizer loading increased to 0.184 million tonnes from 0.167 million tonnes last year, marking a 10.2 percent rise. Mineral oil traffic rose to 0.172 million tonnes from 0.146 million tonnes, registering a 17.8 percent increase, while container EXIM traffic increased to 0.251 million tonnes compared with 0.213 million tonnes last year, also recording a 17.8 percent growth.

The cumulative monthly performance for February also reflected strong growth across several commodity segments. Fertilizer loading increased to 5.396 million tonnes from 4.224 million tonnes, registering a substantial 27.7 percent growth. Clinker traffic rose to 6.508 million tonnes from 5.421 million tonnes, marking a 20.1 percent increase. Pig iron and finished steel loading reached 6.237 million tonnes compared with 5.522 million tonnes last year, reflecting a growth of 12.9 percent.

Iron ore loading also witnessed steady expansion, rising to 16.370 million tonnes from 14.925 million tonnes, a growth of 9.7 percent. Container EXIM traffic increased to 5.432 million tonnes compared with 5.142 million tonnes last year, registering a 5.6 percent rise, while domestic container traffic grew to 2.015 million tonnes from 1.970 million tonnes, indicating a 2.3 percent increase. The sustained growth in container traffic reflects rising demand across industrial and logistics sectors.

Rail freight remains one of the most economical and environmentally efficient modes of transporting bulk commodities, enabling industries to move raw materials and finished goods over long distances in a reliable and cost-effective manner.

Indian Railways also recorded positive growth in cumulative freight performance during the current financial year. During the period from 1 April 2025 to 28 February 2026, the national transporter carried 1,503.80 million tonnes of freight, compared with 1,456.07 million tonnes during the same period of the previous year, registering a growth of 3.28 percent.

Freight revenue during this period reached ₹1,60,987 crore as compared with ₹1,58,539.86 crore in the corresponding period last year, reflecting a growth of 1.54 percent. Total freight movement measured in NTKM stood at 840,000 million compared with 826,586 million NTKM in the previous year, marking a growth of 1.62 percent.

Indian Railways continues to strengthen its freight ecosystem through capacity augmentation, improved terminal infrastructure, dedicated freight corridors and digital freight management systems. These initiatives are helping industries move goods more efficiently while reducing logistics costs, reinforcing the Railways’ role as the backbone of India’s logistics network and a key driver of the country’s economic growth.