Transport and storage, price indices, Q3 2009

The price index for sea transport had a remarkable decline compared to the same quarter one year ago. The index was registered at 137.9 during the 3rd quarter of 2008 and has since declined by 7.7 per cent.

A nominal increase in prices for freight transport by road

Within freight transport by road, the transport prices for petroleum products, which rose by 1.6 per cent, contributed the most for the rise in the aggregate index. Transport prices for dry goods in bulk and mixed goods/container goods also grew by 0.7 and 0.5 per cent respectively. Conversely, transport prises for frozen or refrigerated goods as well as other gases and liquids declined by 0.1 and 0.2 per cent respectively between the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2009. The aggregate index for freight transport by road remained, meanwhile, at 117.6 for the 3rd quarter of 2009, which is 0.4 per cent higher than in the same quarter a year earlier. This is the lowest annual growth since the index inception.

Ocean transport of dry bulk towards stabilisation

Ocean transport with goods increased by 1.5 per cent compared to the last quarter. This is mainly due to a price increase in ocean transport of dry bulk by 6.1 per cent, and the index level has increased to 103.15. However, the index for ocean transport with goods is down 7 per cent compared to the same quarter one year ago. This is caused by a decrease in ocean transport of crude oil and oil products by 8.5 per cent.

Declining storage prices

In aggregate, the price index for storage services declined by 1.9 per cent with respect to the previous quarter. Prices for frozen/cool storage declined by about 5 per cent, while general storage declined by 1 per cent between the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2009. The index grew by 1.7 per cent relative to the same quarter last year and remains at 115.1.