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European road freight rates rise in Q3 2025
Photo: upply
In Q3 2025 European road freight rates rose simultaneously for both contract and spot rates, each reaching about 134 points. The spot index increased by 1.7 points to 134.3, and the contract rate index also climbed 1.7 points to 134.0, with annual increases of 1.9 and 3.1 points respectively. Demand began to recover, supported by retail activity and a brief uptick in manufacturing in August, though both showed signs of fragility.
The confidence index for road freight improved to 12.7, indicating expectations of a moderate rate rise next quarter. Fuel prices remained steady, but CNG prices declined further in Italy and Spain. Several countries increased tolls significantly, notably Romania (+17.8%), Bulgaria (+7.7%) and Slovakia (+40.9%), with a VAT hike affecting costs in July. Capacity constraints persisted due to a sharp drop in new vehicle registrations, with fewer than 32,000 units, down 39%, and high insolvency rates in Germany's transport sector. The outlook indicates moderate upward pressure on rates, driven by seasonal re-stocking and manufacturing recovery, although the sector remains fragile and uneven across Europe.