$7.8bn
$XXX.Xm
12,937
57
$X.Xbn
The Rail Freight Transport industry has encountered substantial difficulties over the past few years, largely due to fluctuations in Australia's international trade activity. Rail freight firms mainly transport bulk and non-bulk products to and from Australia's sea ports, and changes in Australia's international trade activity influence their performance. However, the global crude oil price was unstable during the pandemic due to an oversupply. This is significant for the industry as lower crude oil prices usually result in reduced fuel costs, leading to intense competition from the Road Freight Transport industry. However, world crude oil prices have surged since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, easing competition. Margins have improved off a low base year in 2019-20, as rail freight operators have managed to pass on the majority of rising fuel costs, and a growing rail freight task has improved capacity use in the industry.
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $7.8bn in 2024.
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
---|---|---|
Aurizon | 2,530.0 | |
Pacific National | 2,150.0 | |
SCT Logistics | 334.7 |
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Other bulk freight transport, Non-bulk freight transport and Coal and mineral freight transport. Other bulk freight transport is the largest segment of the Rail Freight Transport in Australia.
Long-term contracts with mining companies sustain revenue from coal and mineral freight transport
Rail freight transport firms primarily operate railways to transport freight. The industry does not include rail freight terminal operations or private railroads operated in-house for transporting goods.
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ANZSIC 4710 - Rail Freight Transport in Australia
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
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Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Internal competition is limited in the Rail Freight Transport industry. Firms tend to operate in separate markets and locations, which means that they often don’t compete dir...
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Pacific National is a key operator in the Rail Freight Transport industry. The ACCC recently accepted the company’s acquisition of Aurizon’s Queensland intermodal business.
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Australia used to have separate regulatory bodies for each state and territory. The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator now oversees the country’s regulations and st...
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Profit margins have been wavering over the past few years. More investment in road infrastructure has made road freight more competitive, cutting into demand and profitabilit...
Including values and annual change:
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Key data sources in Australia include:
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These sources include:
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The market size of the Rail Freight Transport industry in Australia is $7.8bn in 2024.
There are 57 businesses in the Rail Freight Transport industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
The market size of the Rail Freight Transport industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2019 and 2024.
Over the next five years, the Rail Freight Transport industry in Australia is expected to grow.
The biggest companies operating in the Rail Freight Transport market in Australia are Aurizon, Pacific National and SCT Logistics
Coal and mineral freight transport and Non-bulk freight transport are part of the Rail Freight Transport industry.
The company holding the most market share in Australia is Aurizon.
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Rail Freight Transport industry in Australia.