Transit traffic, the smallest of Botswana's four rail freight categories by volume, carried the quarter: without its increase, the volume and revenue lines would both have fallen again.
The year-on-year comparison is the one to watch. Volumes were around 12.7% below the first quarter of 2025 and revenue about 9.7% lower, so the next quarterly release will show whether the transit gain holds or the underlying decline in local, import and export traffic sets the direction.
- Statistics Botswana has reported a 4.9% quarter-on-quarter increase in rail freight volumes for the first quarter of 2026.
- Rail carried 171,715 net tonnes in the quarter, against 163,681 net tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2025.
- Transit freight rose 108.8% to 32,342 tonnes but remained the smallest category, at 18.8% of volumes.
- Exports were the largest category at 53,264 tonnes, or 31% of the quarterly total.
- Rail freight revenue rose 7.5% to P42.9 million, with transit revenue up 107.3%.
- Volumes were about 12.7% lower and revenue about 9.7% lower than in the first quarter of 2025.
Statistics Botswana has reported a 4.9% increase in rail freight volumes during the first quarter of 2026, with 171,715 net tonnes transported compared with 163,681 tonnes in the preceding quarter. The increase was driven primarily by transit traffic, which more than doubled during the reporting period.
According to the country's Transport and Infrastructure Statistics, Quarter 1, 2026, transit freight increased by 108.8%, from 15,487 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 32,342 tonnes. Despite this growth, transit remained the smallest of the four freight categories, accounting for 18.8% of total rail volumes.
Exports continued to account for the largest share of freight transported by rail, at 53,264 tonnes, representing 31% of the quarterly total. Local traffic followed at 43,780 tonnes, or 25.5%, while imports accounted for 42,329 tonnes, representing 24.7%.
Imports from the south increased by 8.6% compared with the previous quarter. However, the gains in transit traffic and southern imports were accompanied by declines in other freight categories. Local traffic decreased by 8.5%, total imports fell by 5%, and exports declined by 4.5%.
The quarter-on-quarter recovery in freight volumes also needs to be considered against the corresponding period in 2025, when Botswana recorded 196,637 net tonnes of rail freight. First-quarter volumes in 2026 were approximately 12.7% lower year on year, despite the improvement recorded against the final quarter of 2025.
Rail freight revenue increased by 7.5% quarter on quarter, rising from P39.9 million to P42.9 million. Transit traffic contributed substantially to the increase, with revenue from this category rising by 107.3% compared with the preceding quarter.
Exports generated the largest share of rail freight revenue, accounting for 29.8% of total earnings, followed closely by local traffic at 29.6%. Transit traffic contributed 24.6%, while imports accounted for the remaining 16%.
Revenue performance differed across the freight categories. While transit revenue increased, earnings from imports declined by 19.9%, local traffic revenue fell by 3.4%, and export revenue decreased by 2.2%.
Compared with the first quarter of 2025, when rail freight revenue reached P47.5 million, the latest quarterly figure represents a year-on-year decline of approximately 9.7%.
The statistics show that increased transit traffic supported the recovery in both rail freight volumes and revenue during the first quarter, although total freight activity remained below the level recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
