NEW DELHI — Driven by strong growth in the transportation of steel, iron ore, and fertilizers, Indian Railways earned a robust ₹14,571.99 crore in freight revenue in February 2026. According to official data released on Friday, total freight loading rose by nearly 4 per cent year-on-year, highlighting the strengthening of domestic logistics and core sector movement.
February 2026 Freight Highlights
During the month, Indian Railways transported 137.72 million tonnes (MT) of freight, a noticeable jump from the 132.48 MT recorded in February 2025. This 3.96 per cent increase in volume translated to a 2.97 per cent growth in revenue.
Freight movement efficiency also saw an uptick. Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM)—a key indicator of freight transport output—reached 76,007 million NTKM, reflecting a 4.18 per cent growth over the same month last year.
Core Sector Commodities Drive Growth
The traffic surge was largely fueled by core sector commodities, with significant daily and monthly loading increases across the board. Daily loading data showed iron ore rising by 27.6 per cent and raw materials for steel plants (excluding iron ore) climbing by a massive 46.9 per cent.
Here is a look at the cumulative monthly performance for key commodities in February:
| Commodity | Feb 2025 Loading (MT) | Feb 2026 Loading (MT) | Growth (%) |
| Fertilizers | 4.224 | 5.396 | +27.7% |
| Clinker | 5.421 | 6.508 | +20.1% |
| Pig Iron & Finished Steel | 5.522 | 6.237 | +12.9% |
| Iron Ore | 14.925 | 16.370 | +9.7% |
| Container EXIM Traffic | 5.142 | 5.432 | +5.6% |
Cumulative Financial Year Performance (April 2025 – Feb 2026)
The robust February figures contribute to a steady growth trajectory for the current financial year. Between April 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026, the national transporter recorded:
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Total Freight Carried: 1,503.80 MT (a 3.28 per cent increase from 1,456.07 MT last year).
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Freight Revenue: ₹1,60,987 crore (a 1.54 per cent growth from ₹1,58,539.86 crore).
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Total Movement: 840,000 million NTKM (up 1.62 per cent).
According to the Railways, this continued momentum is a direct result of strategic investments in infrastructure, the expansion of dedicated freight corridors, improved terminal facilities, and the integration of digital freight management systems—all of which are streamlining the movement of bulk commodities across the country.
