ZEW/Progtrans-TransportmarktBarometer - Increasing Transport Volumes and Inconsistent Price Development

In the coming six months, the volume of transport goods in nearly all German transport sectors will grow, and no sector will face transport volumes decreasing below the current level. The price development is rather inconsistent. Some transport sectors expect price increases whereas others foresee slightly lower prices. These are the results of the ProgTrans/ZEW-TransportmarktBarometer (Transport Market Barometer) in the first quarter of 2014. In this quarterly survey, ProgTrans AG in Basel, CH, and the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim survey some 250 top executives from the transport and loading industry about their assessment regarding the development of transport markets and prices on a six-month horizon.

The surveyed experts expect the highest growth in transport volumes in courier, express and parcel (CEP) services, road freight as well as Asian/Pacific air and sea freight traffic. The prospects for "classic" rail cargo and inland navigation, however, seem rather dull. The development of transport demand in combined traffic is expected to remain largely stable.

The experts' current assessment of the price development in the coming six months is mixed. Price increases are expected for conventional rail cargo, CEP services as well as for a limited number of air and sea traffics. The vast majority of experts expect stable prices for classic road freight, combined traffic and inland navigation. The substantial price increases in Asian/Pacific sea traffic are in particular striking.

For further information please contact

Dr. Martin Achtnicht (ZEW), Phone +49 (0) 621 /1235-208, E-mail achtnicht@zew.de

Dr. Stefan Rommerskirchen (progtrans), Phone +41 61/56035-10, E-mail stefan.rommerskirchen@progtrans.com