Transport prices have hit a three year high, after rising 7.8 per cent between the first and second quarters of 2011, the latest Transport Market Monitor by Transporeon and Capgemini reveals.
The TMM price index hit its highest point (103.9) since it was launched at the beginning of 2008.
The report said the increase between the first and second quarters reflected a seasonal effect caused by a relatively higher demand for transport in the second quarter and the effect of various holidays like the Easter weekend, which compressed transport demand.
Ramon Veldhuijzen, global lead of logistics within Capgemini Consulting and one of the authors of the report, said: “We saw the typical seasonal price and capacity development in the second quarter of 2011. Despite the normal seasonal upward effect, uncertainty in economic developments in Europe and the US could slow down the price increase during the subsequent quarters in 2011”.
The diesel index was up 5.8 per cent between the first and second quarters. However, the capacity index, another factor with high impact on transport prices, decreased by 34.4 per cent between the first and second quarters – from 101.6 to 66.6.
Looking at the year on year figures, the index was up three per cent on the second quarter of 2010 – 103.9 against 100.9.
Peter Förster, managing director of Transporeon, said: “The first indicators for the development of the third quarter in 2011 show a cautious downward effect on the transport prices. We will be monitoring closely the developments in the last part of the year”.