Transportation activities grew positively in the first half of 2023 in terms of both passenger and cargo transport, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Passenger transport was estimated at over 2.17 billion people, a year-on-year increase of 15.9 per cent.

Passenger transport by railway led, with an increase of 75.7 per cent, followed by sea with 49.6 per cent, inland waterways 32.9 per cent, air 26.5 per cent, and road 14.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, freight transport was estimated at over 1.1 billion tons, an increase of 15.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Cargo transport by road, sea, and inland waterways increased during the six-month period, by 12.7 per cent, 13.3 per cent, and 30.8 per cent, respectively.

However, freight transport by air and rail fell. Cargo transport by air was down 2.2 per cent year-on-year while rail was down sharply, by 26.4 per cent.