New Delhi : Strong growth in the transportation of steel, iron ore and fertilizers helped Indian Railways earn ₹14,571.99 crore in freight revenue in February 2026, even as total freight loading rose nearly 4 per cent year-on-year.
According to official data released on Friday, Indian Railways carried 137.72 million tonnes (MT) of freight during February 2026, compared with 132.48 MT in February last year, registering a 3.96 per cent increase.
Freight revenue during the month stood at ₹14,571.99 crore, up from ₹14,151.96 crore in February 2025, marking a 2.97 per cent growth.
Railways also reported improved freight movement efficiency. Net Tonne Kilometres (NTKM), a key indicator of freight transport output, reached 76,007 million NTKM in February 2026, compared with 72,955 million NTKM in the same month last year, reflecting 4.18 per cent growth.
Railway freight traffic during the month was largely driven by core sector commodities such as coal, iron ore, finished steel, fertilizers, cement and container traffic.
Daily freight loading data showed significant year-on-year increases across several commodities. Iron ore loading rose to 0.675 MT from 0.529 MT last year, a 27.6 per cent increase, while pig iron and finished steel rose to 0.343 MT from 0.284 MT, up 20.8 per cent.
Loading of raw materials for steel plants (excluding iron ore) climbed to 0.141 MT from 0.096 MT, recording a 46.9 per cent increase.
Other commodities also recorded growth. Fertilizer loading increased to 0.184 MT from 0.167 MT (up 10.2 per cent), mineral oil to 0.172 MT from 0.146 MT (up 17.8 per cent), and container EXIM traffic to 0.251 MT from 0.213 MT, also a 17.8 per cent increase.
In the cumulative monthly performance for February, several commodities showed robust growth compared to the same period last year.
Fertilizer loading rose to 5.396 MT from 4.224 MT, registering a 27.7 per cent increase, while clinker traffic increased to 6.508 MT from 5.421 MT, up 20.1 per cent.
Pig iron and finished steel reached 6.237 MT, compared with 5.522 MT last year, reflecting 12.9 per cent growth. Iron ore loading rose to 16.370 MT from 14.925 MT, an increase of 9.7 per cent.
Container traffic also recorded steady growth. Container EXIM traffic rose to 5.432 MT from 5.142 MT (up 5.6 per cent), while domestic container traffic increased to 2.015 MT from 1.970 MT, a 2.3 per cent rise.
Indian Railways has also recorded steady growth in freight operations during the current financial year.
Between April 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026, Railways carried 1,503.80 MT of freight, compared with 1,456.07 MT during the same period last year, registering a 3.28 per cent increase.
Freight revenue during the period reached ₹1,60,987 crore, compared with ₹1,58,539.86 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year, reflecting a 1.54 per cent growth.
Total freight movement measured in NTKM stood at 840,000 million, compared with 826,586 million NTKM in the previous year, marking a 1.62 per cent increase.
Railways said continued investments in infrastructure, dedicated freight corridors, improved terminal facilities and digital freight management systems are helping strengthen logistics efficiency while supporting the movement of bulk commodities across the country.
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