Fall in transport of goods by lorry

Published:

Norwegian lorries transported 58.8 million tonnes of goods in Norway and between Norway and abroad; 2.3 per cent less than the same quarter in 2016. Transport performance was 5.0 billion tonne-kilometres, about the same as in the 1st quarter of 2016.

The transport performance of Norwegian-registered vehicles in national transport decreased by 2.5 per cent compared with the same quarter in 2016. Transported tonnage carried also decreased by 2.5 per cent in the same period.

Figur 1

Figure 1. National and international transport by Norwegian lorries

Figure 2. National transports. Vehicle kilometres by Norwegian lorries

Unloaded vehicle-kilometres Vehicle kilometres with load
1st quarter 2008 109.6 294.8
1st quarter 2009 103.6 290.2
1st quarter 2010 99.4 290.2
1st quarter 2011 100.6 294.8
1st quarter 2012 114.6 342.1
1st quarter 2013 109.6 350.1
1st quarter 2014 120.2 356.8
1st quarter 2015 125.0 378.3
1st quarter 2016 125.1 324.3
1st quarter 2017 130.7 332.8

3 in 10 kilometres without load

In total, Norwegian lorries drove 27.6 million more kilometres than in the 1st quarter of 2016. Of the total 508 million kilometres driven, 367 million were driven with a load. This gave an empty kilometres rate of 27.8 per cent, which is 0.4 percentage points lower than in the corresponding quarter of 2016.

National mass transport dominates

Mass transport accounted for 56.8 per cent of the total transport volume in the 1st quarter of 2017, and 23.9 per cent of total transport performance. Mass transport that is usually performed over short distances was significantly lower when measured in tonne kilometres than tonnes transported. The number of tonne kilometres for general cargo dominated transport performance since this type of cargo is transported farther.

Figure 3. National transport tonnage carried by commodity. 1st quarter 2017

Tonnage carried (mill.tonnes)
Agricultural products, forestry products, fishing products 9.2% 5.3
Food products, beverages, tobaco and animal fodder 7.5% 4.3
Coal, oil and chemicals and chemical products (incl. fertilizer) 8.9% 5.1
Metal ores, stone, sand, gravel, clay, salt, cement, lime, manufactured construction materials 56.8% 32.6
Other manufactured goods, grouped goods and other goods 17.6% 10.1

Figure 4. National transport performance by commodity. 4rd quarter 2016

Transport performance (million tonne kilometres)
Agricultural products, forestry products, fishing Products 14.4% 643.3
Food products, beverages, tobaco and animal fodder 22.1% 987.4
Coal, oil and chemicals and chemical products (incl. fertilizer) 9.8% 437.8
Metal ores, stone, sand, gravel, clay, salt, cement, lime, manufactured construction materials 23.9% 1071.9
Other manufactured goods, grouped goods and other goods 29.9% 1337.2

New statistical methods can affect comparability

A new sample method was introduced in the 3rd quarter of 2015, and in the 1st quarter of 2016 a new questionnaire was launched and new estimation routines were adopted. The principles for recording collection and distribution trips were also amended in accordance with international recommendations in 2016, and this change is also made for 2015. All of these changes will to some extent affect the comparability of the quarters for individual variables, such as tonnes and tonne kilometres, distribution of goods and distribution between hire and transport for own account. The change in the processing of round trips will affect the comparability between 2015 and earlier. Consequently, time series must be interpreted with some caution, but the changes nevertheless still enable comparisons of the main features of the development of transport performance for lorries over time. See more information about the changes in About the statistics.

Read also on ssb.no

Statistics

Contact