The 2012 edition of the International Transport Forum’s annual statistics update gathers data from the forum’s 54 member countries for the period 1970-2010. Data cover all modes of transport as well as road safety. Some preliminary data for 2011 also are included.
According to ITF, the data highlight major trends in the transport sector:
• The fall in world trade following the 2008 crisis impacted strongly on the transport sector. Changes in transport volumes were larger than both changes in GDP and trade;
• Following recovery in some transport modes in 2010, performance has weakened again;
• Statistics through 2010 and some preliminary data for 2011 show sea and air freight transport volumes rebounding strongly in 2010 to reach a new record high 2 percent above the pre-crisis peak;
• Rail and road freight have seen slower recovery due to domestic economic performance. Rail freight volumes remain below pre-crisis levels and indicate stagnation in 2011, while road freight recovery remains slow. The crisis impacted on rail passenger transport later than other modes with regional data showing stagnation or a decrease in 2010;
• Maritime freight data, showing continued growth in 2011, highlight the discrepancy between growth levels in developed and developing countries, the latter faring better;
• Air freight transport in 2010 grew more than 20 percent on the previous year, signaling inventory rebuilding following the downturn and rising consumer demand. Preliminary data show worldwide air cargo volumes, a lead indicator for economic performance, stalling at 0 percent growth in 2011.
• Air passenger transport reached a new record high at 4 684 billion revenue passenger-kilometres (RPK) in 2010, with European countries marking 9 percent growth despite the 2010 volcanic ash crisis; and
• 2011 data show continued growth in air travel.
The publication includes first indications on road safety for 2011 from the Forum’s quarterly database and the IRTAD database. To download the latest edition of Trends in Transport, go to http://internationaltransportforum.org/Pub/new.html.
