European road freight rates decline again in Q1 2023: Report

Additionally, the spot market index had fallen below its Q2 2022 level, a time when costs rose following the war in Ukraine first became clear. Despite this, spot rates remain up by 8.9 points year-on-year (YoY), according to a report titled ‘The European Road Freight Rate Development Benchmark Q1 2023’ by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and Upply.

The contract rates index has also fallen by 2.8 points QoQ, the first fall in six quarters, but it is still up 10.7 points YoY. With volumes slackening and available capacity improving, the downward trend in rates looks set to continue in 2023.

Spot rates have declined 1.5 times faster than contract rates on average in Q1 2023. This comes as a result of falling demand from European economies, reducing the immediate demand-side pressure on spot market rates. Despite some easing of inflation and QoQ growth in seasonally adjusted monthly consumption figures in Spain at 1.0 per cent), France at 0.4 per cent, and the UK at 0.5 per cent, YoY figures reflect the ongoing impact of persistent inflation over the past 12 months.

Average seasonally adjusted monthly consumption is down YoY by 6 per cent in Germany, 3.9 per cent in France, 2.8 per cent in Italy, and 4.3 per cent in the UK. As wage growth lags behind inflation, the cost-of-living crisis worsens, reducing the appetite and ability to consume goods. This will further reduce demand-side pressure on road freight rates, allowing for further rate falls in both markets.

“While it's typical for road freight rates to dip during Q1 after the holiday peak season, this year's drop is hitting harder than usual. The market appears to be recalibrating after experiencing a hefty double-digit surge in 2022, but how far will it go? It's doubtful that we'll return to pre-pandemic conditions, especially with capacity shortages remaining a major concern,” commented Thomas Larrieu, chief executive officer at Upply.

Although fears of an energy crisis have subsided and energy prices have fallen, last year’s high prices continue to act as a drag on Europe’s industrial growth. Available Q1 2023 data from official sources reveal a decline in production in the UK by -0.5 per cent, Spain by 0.3 per cent, and Poland by -0.1 per cent, while production in France by 0.9 per cent and Germany by 0.5 per cent has grown.

Inflation is eroding the demand for consumer goods, while demand for capital goods remains steady. High interest rates will likely deter major expansions in production in 2023, limiting the pressure on rates and allowing for further rate falls.

“The stagnation in freight demand from Q4 2022 has continued into 2023, flattening the driver shortage curve—for now. But nothing has changed in the long-term outlook of the profession. The share of young drivers remains extremely low. Any jump in demand from European economies will further exacerbate the shortage of drivers, which in turn will limit economic growth. We can’t take our eye off the ball. We need to continue pushing for both immediate and structural solutions to driver shortages,” said IRU senior director for strategy and development Vincent Erard.

Despite the easing of demand-side pressure, the supply pressures remain. A worsening driver shortage is eroding capacity, while fuel costs have fallen from their 2022 high, they remain elevated compared to 2021. The cost-of-living crisis across the continent is also increasing wage demands in 2023, resulting in labour costs increase. The likely result is further freight rate falls from falling demand. However, the size and scope of these falls will be limited by supply-side pressure that has created a higher cost base which will prevent freight rates from reaching historic lows, the report added. 

“In Q1 we saw contract rates started to follow spot rates in their drop off as predicted and we expect to see this trend continue downwards in Q2. As volumes dropped off in Q1 we saw a continuous increase in available capacity easing pressure on rates, but capacity remains constrained by driver shortages. The outlook is for rates to continue to fall in Q2, although seasonal demand will support higher rates in Q2. We expect rates to remain at a higher level than their pre-pandemic base,” said Michael Clover, Ti’s head of commercial development.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (NB)