Freight transport demand by mode and group of goods

This website has limited functionality with javascript off. Please make sure javascript is enabled in your browser.

Topics: Transport ,

Assessment made on 01 Apr 2005

Note: new version is available!

Generic metadata

Classification

Transport (Primary theme)

DPSIR: Driving force

Identification

Indicator codes

TERM 013

Geographical coverage:

[+] Show Map

Contents

Policy issue: Break the link between economic growth and freight transport growth

Key messages

Freight transport volume has grown quickly, and has generally been coupled to the growth in GDP. Consequently the objective of decoupling GDP and transport growth is no closer to being achieved. However, the apparently close link is not evident when looking at individual regions (e.g. old 15). The difference in transport intensity between the old and the new member states is great but decreasing.
The share of road freight transport increased during the 1992 - 2003 period. The modal shares of rail and inland waterways continue to decrease, thereby moving away from the objective of stabilising the share of alternative transport modes relative to road.

Figures

a) Freight transport volume and GDP and b) freight transport per unit of GDP by region

a) Modal shares in freight transport demand in EEA-30 and b) Share of road freight transport in 1995 and 2003 in different regions

Key assessment

Rapidly growing demand

Freight transport demand has grown significantly since 1992, thereby making it increasingly difficult to reduce the environmental consequences of transport. Interestingly, for the first time freight transport volume fell in the 15 old member states in 2003. However, this is probably temporary, as partial 2004 data suggest an 8 % increase from the previous year (preliminary Eurostat data).

Modal split in freight transport

The share of alternative modes (rail and inland waterways) in freight transport has declined during the last decade. As a result, the objective of stabilising the shares of rail, inland waterways, short sea shipping and oil pipelines, and to make for a shift of balance from 2010 onwards, outlined in the Common Transport Policy (CTP) will not be achieved unless a strong reversal of the current trend (see figure 1) is achieved.

For more information, see the attached pdf files.