Freight Transport Trends & Forecasts to 2015
March 2000. Forecast update is available on request.


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The objective of this forecast study is to develop estimates of 1999 modal[1] freight traffic and produce traffic forecasts for the years 2000 to 2010 inclusive, with long-term outlooks for the year 2015. The approach used visualizes the Canadian transportation system as a complex network of transportation nodes, routes and modes competing for commodities flowing within Canada and between various North American and overseas supply and demand centres. The amount/size and direction of commodities flowing through this network are influenced by a multitude of interrelated economic, infrastructure/technological, political, institutional and environmental factors at domestic and global levels. By identifying the supply and demand centre(s) for each commodity/group and then determining the impact of these factors on its supply, demand, trade and modal choice, the accuracy of the forecast is greatly enhanced

Total modal freight traffic[2] in 1999 is estimated at 863 Mt, 2.0% above the 846 Mt in 1998. During the 1999-2015 forecast period total freight traffic is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 1.3% to 1,050 Mt in 2015.

 
 

 

The marine traffic in 1999 is estimated at 330 Mt, 0.7% above the 328 Mt in 1998. During the 1999-2015 forecast period total marine freight traffic flows are expected to increase at an average annual rate of 1.0% to 389 Mt in 2015.

The rail traffic in 1999 is estimated at 289 Mt, 1.5% higher than the 285 Mt in 1998. During the 1999-2015 forecast period total rail freight traffic flows are expected to increase at an average annual rate of 1.1% to 341 Mt in 2015.

The trucking traffic[3] in 1999 is estimated at 244 Mt, 4.4% above the 234 Mt in 1998. During the 1999-2015 forecast period total trucking freight traffic flows are expected to increase at an average annual rate of 1.9% to 320 Mt in 2015.

In terms of share of total freight traffic, the trucking sector is expected to increase from 27.6% in 1998 to 30.5% in year 2015. Shares of the overall freight traffic by marine and rail should decline from 38.7% and 33.6% in 1998 to 37.0% and 32.5% respectively by the year 2015.

FREIGHT TRAFFIC BY MODE: ACTUAL & FORECAST

 

Mt

APC

% Share

 

 

Marine

Rail

Trucking

Modal

Marine

Rail

Trucking

Modal

Marine

Rail

Trucking

Modal

1997

294.6

258.4

194.3

747

 

 

 

 

39.4

34.6

26.0

100.0

1988

320.0

264.7

208.4

793

8.6

2.5

7.3

6.1

40.3

33.4

26.3

100.0

1989

301.3

249.5

189.6

740

-5.8

-5.7

-9.0

-6.6

40.7

33.7

25.6

100.0

1990

292.7

242.3

174.2

709

-2.8

-2.9

-8.1

-4.2

41.3

34.2

24.6

100.0

1991

292.0

247.4

150.6

690

-0.2

2.1

-13.6

-2.7

42.3

35.9

21.8

100.0

1992

275.4

241.6

149.5

667

-5.7

-2.3

-0.7

-3.4

41.3

36.2

22.4

100.0

1993

274.1

240.7

173.4

688

-0.5

-0.4

16.0

3.3

39.8

35.0

25.2

100.0

1994

299.2

273.2

195.7

768

9.2

13.5

12.9

11.6

39.0

35.6

25.5

100.0

1995

310.5

275.2

210.9

797

3.7

0.7

7.8

3.7

39.0

34.5

26.5

100.0

1996

308.9

275.0

229.0

813

-0.5

-0.1

8.5

2.0

38.0

33.8

28.2

100.0

1997

329.4

293.0

223.3

846

6.6

6.5

-2.5

4.0

38.9

34.6

26.4

100.0

1998

327.8

284.8

233.9

846

-0.5

-2.8

4.8

0.1

38.7

33.6

27.6

100.0

1999

330.1

289.0

244.1

863

0.7

1.5

4.4

2.0

38.2

33.5

28.3

100.0

2000

336.0

293.8

249.4

879

1.8

1.6

2.2

1.8

38.2

33.4

28.4

100.0

2001

338.5

298.0

252.3

889

0.7

1.4

1.1

1.1

38.1

33.5

28.4

100.0

2002

342.3

299.3

256.4

898

1.1

0.4

1.7

1.0

38.1

33.3

28.6

100.0

2003

345.2

302.0

261.0

908

0.8

0.9

1.8

1.1

38.0

33.2

28.7

100.0

2004

348.7

305.5

265.2

919

1.0

1.1

1.6

1.2

37.9

33.2

28.9

100.0