Skip to main content

Global road freight on the rise, ITF reports

Road freight’s share in global trade will increase from 6% to 10% by 2050, driven by increasing intra-regional trade, according to the latest report by the International Transport Forum. This growth is especially likely in Asia and Africa where efficient rail networks are and could remain underdeveloped, noted the report ITF Transport Outlook 2015. Hit hard by the global crisis in 2009, road freight volume grew 3% annually from 2010-12 in member countries of the OECD – the Organisation for Economic Co-opera
February 20, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
Road freight’s share in global trade will increase from 6% to 10% by 2050, driven by increasing intra-regional trade, according to the latest report by the 1102 International Transport Forum.

This growth is especially likely in Asia and Africa where efficient rail networks are and could remain underdeveloped, noted %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal the report ITF Transport Outlook 2015 linl to International Transport Forum website false http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/ false false%>.

Hit hard by the global crisis in 2009, road freight volume grew 3% annually from 2010-12 in member countries of the OECD – the 3685 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Despite the growth, overall tonne-kilometres in 20121 were still 9% below pre-financial crisis levels.

After an initial drop of 10% in 2009, road freight is struggling in the 1116 European Union. Tonne-kilometres grew 3% in 2010, but growth slowed to 1% in 2011 and turned finally negative (a 5% drop) in 2012, overall volumes remaining below the pre-crisis peak.

Road freight accounts for around half of the total CO2 emissions from international trade-related freight and the share is projected to increase to 56% by 2050.

International freight now requires intermodal transport and is often performed by trucks. This domestic freight linked to international trade accounts for around 10% of global total trade-related freight and 30% of the total trade-related CO2 emissions.

The world growth of surface freight volumes and related CO2 emissions will be
driven by countries outside the OECD -- Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development. Asia, including China and India, will account for over half of world surface freight transport by 2050, compared with 35% today.

Growth rates range between 330% and 630% for freight volumes and between 240% and 600% for the CO2 emissions. The difference between the highest and the lowest scenario for non-OECD economies reflects uncertainties related to the direction these economies will take in terms of composition of production and the share of different types of freight transport.

The report ITF Transport Outlook 2015 is available from the ITF, which is part of the Paris-based OECD, but is an intergovernmental organisation in its own right. It has 54 member countries, acts as a strategic think tank for transport policy and organises an annual summit of ministers.

Related Content

  • IRF at OECD says global transport volume may double or even quadruple by 2050
    December 13, 2013
    The volume of global transport could double or even quadruple by 2050, according to a new study released by the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The ITF study says GDP growth, freight intensity of economic activity and demographic change are important drivers of the predicted huge transport volume growth. But the study titled ITF Transport Outlook 2013 – Funding Transport, a report containing long-running scenarios for global transport
  • ITF Summit 2016 Awards to recognise outstanding achievements
    March 7, 2016
    Transport operators, manufacturers and researchers will be honoured at the International Transport Forum Awards in the presence of transport ministers from around the world at the ITF’s Annual Summit on 18-20 May in Leipzig, Germany. The ITF will award prizes in three categories: Transport Achievement Award: Recognises a demonstrated achievement of excellence in transport provision.
  • We need better connected transport, says OECD
    May 4, 2012
    Better connected transport will drive economic growth and better protect the environment, according to the Transport Outlook 2012 report on mobility trends produced by the International Transport Forum at the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The new influential report was launched by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría during the Annual Summit of Transport Ministers held in Leipzig, Germany. “Transport and technology form the backbone of global trade,” said Gurría at the summ
  • ITF Summit 2019: IRF to host a high-level debate on The Belt & Road
    May 15, 2019
    The theme of the 2019 ITF Summit which will be hosted in Leipzig (Germany) on 22-24th May has as its theme “Transport Connectivity for Regional Integration” and will gather as usual top decision-makers from the public and the private sector. IRF will be hosting together with China Highway and Transportation Society and the Black Sea Economic Commission (BSEC) a high-level debate on “The Belt & Road: Bridging the gaps for sustainable transport and growth in Eurasia”. Launched in 2013, the Belt and Road