Railway freight transport experienced a slowdown in the first quarter of 2023, according to Director General of the Vietnam Railways Corporation Dang Sy Manh.

Total freight transport was equivalent to just 75 per cent of the volume in the same period last year, as a result of the global economic recession and the difficulties for domestic businesses from falling orders and exports.

Mr. Manh said this is common given the domestic and global economic problems and falling volumes of import and export items.

Passenger transport, however, posted impressive growth in the period, of 270 per cent year-on-year. This is a positive sign despite representing only 80 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels in 2019.