In 2019, a total of 462 789 tonnes of freight and post were handled at Swiss airports by scheduled and charter operators. Freight tonnage clearly dominated with a share of 93%. Having sharply declined between 2000 and 2002 as a result of Swissair’s bankruptcy, it has picked up again. In 2019, 76% of air freight and 86% of postal transport were handled by Zurich airport.
Aviation
| Freight | Post | |
|---|---|---|
| Handling at Swiss airports1, in tonnes | 432 144 | 30 645 |
| Percentage change from 2000 | –13 | –6 |
| Percentage share of individual airports2 | ||
| Zurich | 76 | 86 |
| Geneva | 10 | 14 |
| Basel-Mulhouse3 | 14 | 0.04 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
2) regional airports insignificant
3) Swiss and French traffic Source: FSO, FOCA – Aviation, scheduled and charter flights (AVIA_LC)
Shipping
In Switzerland, freight transported by water is mostly limited to Rhine shipping. Its importance for Swiss foreign trade should not be underestimated, despite the fact that it has declined considerably in recent decades. In 2018, the Swiss Rhine Ports handled 4.7 million tonnes of goods, i.e. roughly 7% of all Swiss imports and exports. In 2018, the principle goods handled in Rhine shipping were crude oil and petroleum products, followed by stones, soils and construction materials.
| Imports | Exports | |
|---|---|---|
| Total handling at Swiss Rhine ports, in tonnes | 3 768 445 | 1 061 023 |
| Percentage change from 2000 | –51 | +4 |
| Percentage share of individual commodity groups | ||
| Crude oil and petroleum products | 46 | 7 |
| Stones, soils and construction materials | 19 | 26 |
| Food, feed and agricultural produce | 16 | 13 |
| Chemical products and fertiliser | 7 | 13 |
| Metals, ores and metal waste | 5 | 14 |
| Vehicles and machinery | 3 | 14 |
| Other | 4 | 14 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Oil pipelines
For the import of crude oil and petroleum products, pipelines are also important. In 2018, 39% (3.9 million tonnes) of the above goods were imported via pipeline into Switzerland. Three-quarters of this was crude oil, which was pumped through the Jura Neuchâtel pipeline to the refinery in Cressier (Canton of Neuchâtel).
| Total imports, in tonnes | 3 924 079 |
|---|---|
| Percentage change from 2010 | –241 |
| Percentage share of Jura Neuchâtel pipeline2 | 77 |
| Percentage share of Sappro pipeline3 (Geneva) | 23 |
2) Crude oil
3) Petroleum products: Petrol, kerosene, heating and diesel oil
Source: Avenergy Suisse – Annual report
Further information
Statistical sources and concepts
Contact
Federal Statistical Office Section MobilityEspace de l'Europe 10
CH-2010 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
- Tel.
- +41 58 463 64 68
Monday - Friday:
09.00 - 12.00 / 14.00 - 16.30