Negative turnover results for road transport sector

In the first quarter of 2013, turnover generated by road transport companies was 1 percent down from one year previously, whereas in 2012 turnover still improved. The negative result over the first quarter is due to shrinking freight volumes. Prices were marginally higher. The number of bankruptcies in the first quarter was approximately the same as one year previously.

Turnover 1 percent down

The on-going recession in the construction sector, falling domestic spending and a declining manufacturing output have a negative impact on road transport companies, resulting in a turnover loss of 1 percent over the first quarter of this year relative to the same period in 2012. Shrinking freight volumes accounted for the change, which could not be offset by marginally improved export results and slightly higher prices.

Turnover and price developments road transport sector

Middle-sized companies perform best

Middle-sized Dutch road transport companies – accounting for more than 40 percent of total turnover – performed best in the first quarter, but still faced a turnover loss of a half percent. Turnover generated by large companies in the road transport sector fell by nearly 4 percent.

Number of bankruptcies continues to grow

A total of 52 road transport companies went bankrupt in the first quarter of 2013, almost the same number as in the first quarter of 2012. Over the entire year 2012, 213 companies in a total of 9 thousand went into liquidation.

Bankruptcies road transport sector

Robbert de Ruijter