Low river water level favourable for inland shipping

Turnover generated by inland shipping was nearly 20 percent higher in the second quarter of 2011than in the same period last year. This is partly due to the low water level.

Low river water level contributes to turnover increase

In the second quarter of this year, rainfall was below average, keeping the water levels in the rivers low. River barges could not be loaded to full capacity, so more vessels were needed to transport the same amount of freight. The overcapacity was reduced and freight prices soared. Barge skippers receive an allowance, when the low water level prevents them from carrying the maximum load. The low water level contributed to the high turnover growth realised in inland shipping in the second quarter of this year.

In the second quarter of 2011, turnover in inland shipping was nearly 20 percent up from the same period last year, but the turnover level is still 7 percent below the pre-recession level.

Turnover developments inland shipping

Turnover also improves in other branches of the transport sector

Turnover generated in road transport improved 6.5 percent in the second quarter. In road transport too, turnover has as yet not reached the pre-recession level. In road transport, the largest branch in the transport sector, turnover over the first six months of 2011 was still nearly 5 percent below the level of the first six months of 2008. The entire road transport sector shows a similar picture: the turnover level over the first six months of 2011 is still nearly 8 percent below the level of the same period in 2008. 

André Weber, Marcel van der Geest and Robbert de Ruijter