Statistics Brief July 2014 Global Trade and Transport Global freight data show diverging trends for developed and developing economies The latest update of global freight data collected by the International Transport Forum at the OECD through March 2014 shows that: USA and EU27 external trade by sea and by air, measured in tonnes of goods moved, remain stagnant below pre-crisis (June 2008) levels; BRICS and are locomotives of growth. China s external trade by sea and air, measured in values, continues to grow since recovery in 2010; Inland freight transport in emerging economies outperforms developed economies. The overall picture for global freight shows no change since the previous quarter. external trade by sea and air, in tonnes, remains stagnant below pre-crisis levels in EU27 and the USA. and exports by sea continue to show diverging trends. While imports by sea stagnate below pre-crisis levels, exports by sea in EU27 and the USA reach 29% and 23% above pre-crisis peak albeit showing signs of slowing down for the latter. external trade by air for both EU27 and the USA remain -4% and - 3% below pre-crisis levels respectively (Figures 1-5). EU-27 and USA exports to and BRICS show continuous growth and remains the locomotive of growth. China s total external trade by sea and air, in values, was 55% and 59% above the pre-crisis peak. to China from Europe and North America by sea outpace export growth and were 85% and 75% above pre-crisis peak. by air also experience similar growth (Figures 6-8). Intra-n trade, which accounts for nearly half of China s total external trade in value, remains strong. China s external trade by sea with ASEAN and South n countries reached 126% and 39% above pre-crisis levels while external trade by air increased to 30% and 88% above pre-crisis peak. Freight by sea, air and road to China s neighbouring CIS countries and Russia grows strongly while rail cargo continues to stagnate below pre-crisis levels. The rail share of external trade has been decreasing since 2005 (Figures 9-10). Inland freight transport reflects diverging trends between developed and emerging economies. Rail freight in the EU area remains below pre-crisis peak while stagnating at pre-crisis levels in the USA. Road freight in the EU area remains 11% below pre-crisis levels. Growth is stronger in emerging markets; Rail freight volumes in Russia and Turkey were 5% and in China 20% above pre-crisis levels. Road freight volume in Russia, in turn, reached 14% above the pre-crisis peak in 4Q/13 (Figures 11-12). Sea and air freight volumes stagnant below precrisis levels China s imports from Europe and North America outpace exports Intra- trade remains strong Inland freight in EU area continue to stagnate 1
Figure 1. External trade, percentage change from June 2008 EU27 trade by sea, total (tonnes) EU27, exports and imports by sea (tonnes) 29% 2% 9% -15% -4% -3% - USA trade by sea, total (tonnes) USA, exports and imports by sea (tonnes) 23% 10% -6% -5% -15% -22% EU27 trade by air, total (tonnes) EU27, exports and imports by air (tonnes) 18% 18% 1% -20% -4% -18% - USA trade by air, total (tonnes) USA, exports and imports by air (tonnes) 3% -1% -3% -3% 2
Figure 2. EU external trade by sea, percentage change from June 2008 21% BRICS 43% 1 54% 10% 35% 41% -5% -14% -11% -23% -8% -28% -28% -2-6% -32% 33% 41% North America 13% -8% -14% -9% 1% 5% -20% -14% 3% -18% -1 Figure 3. EU external trade by air, percentage change from June 2008 9% BRICS 11% 14% 12% 30% 15% 26% 20% 10% -13% -11% -3% -33% -25% 2% 51% 2 40% North America 6% 2% 6% -6% -34% -1% -9% -22% -30% 3
Figure 4. USA external trade by sea, percentage change from June 2008 15% BRICS 70% 92% 30% 18% - 8% 1 20% 15% -2% -6% -3% -11% -20% -61% -24% -2% -75% 13% 45% 23% Europe 12% 21% 3% - -10% -6% -25% -2-4% -1-5% -13% Dec-13 Figure 5. USA external trade by air, percentage change from June 2008 BRICS 14% 15% 1% 20% 10% -24% -36% -10% -13% -3% Europe -14% 3% -3% 4% -1% 0% -10% -46% 4
Figure 6. China external trade, percentage change from June 2008 External trade by sea, total 15% 55% External trade by air, total 20% 69% 59% -26% -24% Figure 7. China external trade by sea, percentage change from June 2008 Europe 24% 49% 6 81% 24% 23% 42% 65% 43% 69% 16% 80% 85% -23% 153% North America 44% 93% 69% 82% 76% 14% 70% 56% 89% 33% 68% 34% 46% 75% -24% -8% -20% 5
Figure 8. China external trade by air, percentage change from June 2008 413% Europe 90% 5% 14% 100% 16% 28% 32% 70% 31% 56% 84% 12% -26% 138% 55% 54% 120% 9 79% 63% 89% 60% 154% North America 59% 42% 42% 79% 11% -26% Figure 9. China external intra- trade, percentage change from June 2008 Trade with ASEAN by air Trade with East by air 100% Trade with South by air 163% 198% 353% 31 21% 38% 30% 13% 51% 22% 29% 88% 33% 60% -32% -9% Trade with ASEAN by sea 153% Trade with East by sea Trade with South by sea 126% 88% 54% 81% 13% 9% 3% 2% 61% 72% 39% -31% -44% -9% -21% 6
Figure 10. China external trade with neighboring CIS countries and Russia, percentage change from June 2008 External trade, 21% 32% 60% 43% External trade by sea 166% 113% 22% 79% 62% External trade by air 38% 56% 84% 106% 6-8% -23% 1-29% -48% External trade by rail External trade by road 29 2013 External trade by modes split 6% 22% 2 45% Air Rail Road Sea -3-22% 5% -11% -39% -31% 40% 33% 2005 34% 19% 39% Note: Neighbouring CIS countries constitute members of the Shanghai Cooperation Group (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) and Mongolia. Figure 11. National and international rail freight, percentage change from 2008Q3 (Tonne-km, quarterly trend, seasonally adjusted) European Union United States China 120 115 Index 100 92 94 102 100 99 85 76 Q3/08 Q4/13 Q3/08 Q4/13 Q3/08 Q4/13 Russia Japan Turkey 105 105 Index 100 83 95 94 87 92 91 105 Q3/08 Q4/13 Q3/08 Q4/13 Q3/08 Q4/13 Note: China data is sourced from National Bureau of Statistics of China. EU rail freight data includes: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom. These cover around 90% of total rail freight in the EU. 7
Fiigure 12. National and international road freight (Million tonne-km, trend, seasonally adjusted) European Union Russia 114 Index 100 93 89 Index 100 89 107 86 76 Q3/08 Q4/13 Q3/08 Q4/13 Note: Data on road freight in the EU area include Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden. These cover around 75% of total road freight in the EU. Methodological note The International Transport Forum Statistics Brief on Global Trade and Transport presents the latest global freight transport trends based on the Global Trade and Transport Database and the ITF Quarterly Transport Statistics. These data are collected by the Secretariat through a questionnaire and from external sources, including Eurostat, US Census and Japan Customs. National data are seasonally adjusted by the International Transport Forum Secretariat for analytical purposes. Short-term data is normally compiled to allow timely identification of changes in any indicator and especially to identify possible turning points. However, monthly or quarterly transport statistics are often characterised by seasonal patterns. Seasonal adjustment filters out usual seasonal fluctuations that recur with similar intensity in the same season every year. Trend, in turn, excludes also other irregular factors (such as strikes and impact of weather) from a time series. A time series from which the seasonal variations have been eliminated basically allows for the comparison of data between two quarters for which seasonal patterns are different, also helping to identify turning points and the underlying direction of the change. Seasonal adjustment is carried out with the Demetra program using the TRAMO/SEATS adjustment method. Seasonally adjusted estimates may differ from those produced by national authorities due to differences in the adjustment methodology. For more detailed description of methodology, click here. If you would like to receive further issues of the Statistics Brief or more information, please contact: Mr Edouard Chong (edouard.chong@oecd.org). For additional information on our transport statistics, go to www.internationaltransportforum.org/statistics/shortterm/index.html. 8