Eleventh edition of the Transport Market Monitor by Capgemini Consulting and Transporeon assesses European transport and haulage dynamics

The eleventh edition of the Transport Market Monitor (TMM) by Transporeon and Capgemini Consulting reveals that transport prices decreased by 7.9% in Q1 2012 compared to Q4 2011. This considerable price decrease in Q1, caused by decreasing economic activity and an uncertain outlook for the near future, fits the pattern of the price index in previous years. However, the capacity index increased significantly with 41,5% in Q1 2012 compared to Q4 2011.

Main highlights of the report
The price index decreased by 7.9% in Q1 2012 (index 92.7), compared to the price index in Q4 2011 (index 100.6).

Compared to the index level of previous year, Q1 2011 (index 96.4), the price index decreased by 3.8%. This confirms the development observed in the previous quarter, when transport prices were lower than a year earlier.

The diesel index increased by 2.9% in Q1 2012, compared to Q4 2011.



The capacity index increased by 41.5% in Q1 2012 (index 120.1), compared to Q4 2011 (index 84.9).

Ramon Veldhuijzen, Global Lead of Logistics within Capgemini Consulting and one of the authors of the report, said: “The European transport market varies per quarter but the trend is clearly downward as countries remain in recession. Corporate cost reduction pressure will force transport managers to further squeeze the carriers. On the other hand structural measures should not be forgotten - maybe the carriers can show the way to sustainable transport cost reduction.”

Peter Förster, Managing Director of Transporeon, added:
“After recognizing an overall strong decrease of transport prices in Q1, the month of March shows a typical pattern of seasonal recovery. However due to the general uncertain economic situation, we should continue to observe the development of the transport market very closely.”

More details can be found in the Transport Market Monitor on www.transportmarketmonitor.com

The Transport Market Monitor by Transporeon and Capgemini Consulting is a quarterly publication that aims to track transport market dynamics.

The aim of the Transport Market Monitor is to provide insights in the development of transport prices, and other transport market dynamics to logistics executives and other interest groups. It is a joint initiative of TRANSPOREON and Capgemini Consulting. The Index is based on the logistics platform TRANSPOREON on which shippers tender and process their transport needs to their preferred transport partners on a daily basis. Anonymously, information is unlocked from the platform and analysed by Capgemini Consulting. This results in monthly Indices which are published on a quarterly basis.