The International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental strategic think tank for transport policy with 52 member countries. Their latest data indicate a marked macroeconomic slowdown, noting that freight by sea in the EU and the USA stabilised below pre-crisis levels, while freight by air has declined in the EU.
The report also emphasised the dangers of US and EU dependency on growth led by trade with Asia; USA and EU exports by sea to Asia had declined since February. Air freight with China had declined both in the US and the EU.
The ITF said: “Further slow growth in inland freight transport volumes continues to contribute to the sense of weak recovery in domestic demand.
“The overall picture for global freight is one of growth slowing down.