The Upply x Ti x IRU European road freight rates index for Europe shows that the Contract Rate Index is down 0.2 points q-o-q, although it remains up 2.8 points year-on-year. Meanwhile, the Spot Rate Index is down 3.5 points q-o-q and. down 7.5 points y-o-y.
2023 Q2 rates data suggests short term road freight demand is down with high consumer prices and lagging wages pushing down demand for the distribution of goods throughout Europe, resulting in further falls in freight rates on the spot market. The contract market has seen much smaller rate falls due to the elevated costs base vs 2022. This has allowed the Spot Index to drop below the Contract Index for the first time in 6 years.
Rate falls in the contract market have been much more muted than in the spot market. The two largest reasons for this are improved business sentiment and a structural lag in prices reflecting falling costs.
By June, European CPI Energy had reduced by 18.4 points vs their peak in October 2022, reducing industrial costs across the continent. The result is a slightly more positive view than a year ago, which may encourage companies to secure greater capacity on annual contracts up for renewal.
In addition, higher carrier costs have been priced into contracts due to labour cost and fuel prices, these may have fallen from their highs in 2022, but remain higher than their pre-Ukraine conflict base. The EU Weighted average diesel price in July 2023 remains up 16.9% vs July 2021. The result is temporary greater demand for capacity in the contract market alongside a high-cost base.
Lower prices have also encouraged many shippers to tender contracts in what they see as a buyer’s market, increasing demand for contracted capacity.
Thomas Larrieu, Chief Executive Officer at Upply, comments: “In the first half of 2023, we are seeing the effects of the economic slowdown in Europe, illustrated by the sharp fall in spot prices. Nevertheless, it is important to note that road freight prices in Europe remain on average 12-15% higher than before the pandemic, reflecting a structural increase in hauliers’ costs.”
According to latest IRU driver shortage data, the shortage of truck drivers in Q2 2023 was slightly lower than a year ago, with 7% of truck driver positions remaining unfilled versus 9.7% at the end of 2021. Though the evidence shows that driver shortages are easing, the shortage is still applying upward pressure on rates.
IRU Senior Director for Strategy and Development Vincent Erard adds: “The drop in demand for road freight should not distract us from the structural problems of the European truck driver population: less than 6% are under 25 years old while more than a third of those over 55 will retire in 5 to 10 years. More than 1.2 million truck driver jobs could be vacant in 5 to 10 years, due to driver retirements alone. We must act now to improve access to the profession, facilitate the recruitment of drivers from third countries and enhance the attractiveness of the profession.”
The outlook for European road freight in the coming months is for further reduction in demand side pressure freeing up capacity and allowing for the possibility of further rate falls in the spot market. Falling order levels, compounded by 22-year high ECB interest rates, indicate that demand pressure on the contract market will continue to ease, allowing for falls in H2 2023, albeit to a higher floor due to a bigger carrier cost base.
Michael Clover, Ti’s Head of Commercial Development, says: “Road Freight Rates across Europe are expected to continue falling through Q3 as demand remains slack and available capacity remains high. With demand not expected to pick up again until 2024, we would expect rates to continue their downward trajectory for the foreseeable future.”
About the European Road Freight Rate Benchmark
The European Road Freight Rate Benchmark report is designed to provide greater visibility of freight rate development across Europe.
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Author: Ti Insight
Source: Ti Insight
