The dataset represents the provision of 1 ton of transport service by dry cargo carriers within China's inland waterway areas (regardless of watershed) over a distance of 1 kilometer. The transport dataset covers the entire transport lifecycle, which includes the production and maintenance of the dry cargo carriers, the construction of canals and ports, as well as energy use and operational emissions. Various tonnage dry cargo carrier transport service shares are reasonably extrapolated based on relevant national inland dry cargo carrier tonnage and freight turnover data, literature, and materials.