In Q4 2018, European road freight transport evidently improved somewhat. The available transport capacity rose by 18.6% compared with the previous quarter, according to the “Transport Market Monitor” published by logistics services specialist Transporeon and consulting company Tim Consult. The capacity index climbed to 96.3 points after standing at 81.2 in Q3 2018. Compared with Q4 2017 when the index was 71.8, there is now over a third more freight capacity free.

Transport prices have fallen slightly as the market has eased. Compared with Q3 2018, the transport price index dropped by 3% to 101.8 points in Q4. The figure is down 5.7% against the corresponding quarter of 2017. However, it is questionable whether industrial companies have already taken note of this development as they usually place their orders based on long-term contracts. Cost reductions will be evident for freight transport on rivers in Germany though, where the government eliminated shipping tolls as well as port and pier fees – see Plasteurope.com of 12.02.2019.