The transport industry - a part of society
Despite the downturn in the economy and falling volumes, rail logistics maintained its share of the market. The environment and climate concerns continue to gain influence as important factors when choosing a transport solution. Road and sea transports face the risk of rising fuel prices once the economy turns itself around and as efforts continue to lower carbon dioxide emissions.
The financial crisis surprised most people and deepend the economic slump that was spreading across the world during the fall of 2008. The impact was felt in the transport sector and Green Cargo noted that its customers rapidly decreased volumes during the fourth quarter of 2008. Starting in the fall of 2009 volumes have slowly recovered but as of spring of 2010 they were still far from pre-crisis levels. Rail transport volumes fell 21 percent in 2009 from the 23.3 billion tonne-km produced in 2008.
The Swedish National Road Administration, which publishes forecasts based on trade outlooks, estimates that annual growth of freight traffic between the years 2009 and 2013 will reach approximately 5.6 percent. Excluding ore and oil, this would mean that freight volumes will be as large in 2013 as they were in 2008.
Long haul transports
Share (in percent) of long haul transports, national and international
Rail's market share excludes ore transports.
Source: Swedish National Rail Administration
Green Cargo's national transports are an approved Good Environmental Choice