After a positive 2017 for freight transport, growth is also forecast for 2018. Research firm estimates growth for this year at 3.3 per cent.
Panteia expects the Netherlands to experience broad economic growth among companies and households, more global trade and government spending in 2018. This will lead to a 3.8 per cent increase in road transport. Lower growth is expected for inland shipping (2.3 per cent) and rail transport (2.8 per cent). Due to the positive short-term outlook, all modes are expected to experience higher growth compared to 2017.
Road transport: staff shortage due to growth
For 2018, the outlook for road transport is favourable. There will be no kilometre charge (for the time being), so professional freight transport will not see an increase in taxes. An increase is mainly expected in the transport of construction materials, chemical products and containers. Higher demand for transport creates more employment in the sector, causing a staff shortage.
Opportunities for inland shipping
Panteia estimates inland navigation growth in 2018 at 2.3 per cent. General expectations in the construction sector are good, which means there will be above-average growth in transport of construction materials. In 2017, port terminals in Rotterdam and Antwerp experienced congestion in container transshipment. In 2018, these effects will be less pronounced and substantial growth in inland container transport is forecast. With the shortage of truck drivers, inland shipping has an opportunity to offer more transport capacity.
Rail transport volume development moderate
For 2018, the volume transported by rail is expected to increase by 2.8 per cent. However, there are differences by sub-group, for example, a decrease in transport of sub-group coal is expected.
