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There has never been a cheaper time to transport goods in Australia, according to a study released today by the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (BTRE).
BTRE Executive Director, Tony Slatyer, said interstate freight rates had declined enormously in the least 35 years.
"Reduced freight rates are an important contribution to the efficiency of the logistics chain and the broader economy. As well as benefiting Australian consumers, this also improves the competitiveness of Australian manufacturers and primary producers."
The key findings of Freight rates in Australia are:
- road freight rates have almost halved in real terms since 1965, in response to better highways and the switch to more efficient, articulated vehicles.
- rail freight rates have fallen 70 per cent in real terms since 1965, largely due to track improvements, more efficient engines and rolling stock and better us of container space.
- rates for non-bulk coastal shipping rates from Tasmania have declined since the 1980s - the Tasmanian trade accounts for a third of all non-bulk coastal shipping in Australia - and the coastal shipping rates to and from Perth have dropped by 40 per cent in real terms since 1990.
- air freight rates have declined by 25 per cent in real terms since 1990.
"The Bureau sees no reason that interstate non-bulk freight rates should not continue to fall at around 0.5 per cent each year into the future," Mr Slatyer said.
The BTRE provides information and analysis for Government and the community to improve the understanding of economic factors influencing the transport sector and regional Australia. The Bureau operates within the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services.
Other recent BTRE studies include: Greenhouse Policy Options for Transport; Fuel Consumption by New Passenger Motor Vehicles in Australia; Australian Transport Statistics; Australian Sea Freight 1999-2000 and Benefits of Flood Mitigation.
Freight rates in Australia and other Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (BTRE) studies can be found at www.btre.gov.au.
Media Contacts:
Kate Robinson, Department of Transport and Regional Services (02) 6274 8059
David Gargett, BTRE, (02) 6274 6879
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