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Introduction

Once again, our Road Quarterly Market Update dives into the dynamic landscape of road transport in the Euro Area. As always we update you on the economic developments, but this time we especially explore the inflation impact on the road transport industry. We have also included an update of the sustainability efforts DSV are initiating towards 2030.

Topics covered in this update include

  • Graph

    1

    General economic development

  • Oil can

    2

    Transport capacity and fuel prices

  • People circle

    3

    Inflation impact

  • Document

    4

    Sustainability: External market updates

  • Globe icon

    5

    Sustainability: Driving change at DSV

General economic development: Euro area

In the Euro area: 

  • In March 2024, the consumer price inflation rate in the Euro Area declined to 2.4% year-on-year.
  • The Consumer Confidence indicator increased further to -14.9 in March. Consumer confidence still scores well below long-term average. 
  • Energy prices saw a decline of 1.8% (vs -3.7% in February), while the service inflation is continuously remaining steady at 4.0%. 
  • The rate for price increase slowed down for food, alcohol, and tobacco from 3.9% to 2.7% in March. The same did the price for non-energy industrial goods  from 1.6% to 1.1%.
  • The core inflation rate, excluding volatile food and energy items decreased from 3.1% to 2.9%, hitting a two-year low.
  • On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.8% in March, following a 0.6.% rise in February.

 Source: World Bank, Eurostat

Inflation rate graph Inflation rate -2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 2020 2022 2024
EU consumer confidence graph EU Consumer Confidence -30 -24 -18 -12 -6 0 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Transport capacity and fuel prices

Index development graph 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Index Development Capacity Index Diesel Price 2.000,000 1.500,000 1.000,000 500,000 0,00 Diesel Price Capacity Index 2.500,000 Source: T ransporeon Market Monitor , EC Oil Bulletin

Volatile transport market and inflation impact

Supply chain disruptions

Supply chain disruptions have become common occurrences. Geopolitical tensions, local strikes, and extreme weather events, combined with challenging economic conditions and growing road taxes and legislations, resulting in a volatile transport market.
 

Supply chain resilience

Understanding chain vulnerabilities and potential failure points is crucial, necessitating the adaptation of disaster recovery, business continuity, and emergency plans. This includes the utilization of advanced technology and collaboration with logistics partners.

Road transport cost

The impact of inflation on road transport costs, is not only driven by fuel prices, which for the European Road transport market is additionally impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. Inflation also plays a role in the maintenance costs of trucks and equipment, as well as the insurance costs for cargo. The shortage of labor and drivers is leading to increased labor expenses. Although the inflation rate is lower, there may still be a delay in its effect on transport prices.

Source: upply, thebci

Marketing conditions graph

Sustainability: External market updates

EU regulations

ECO truck icon

The German government:

Cancels subsidies for electric trucks and other low- and zero-emission alternatives.
Source: reuters

Road taxes

1st Feb 2024:

France road tax: Increase of approx. 3% compared to rates from 2023. The rates depend on various local mechanisms, the entry and exit point of the vehicle and the class of the vehicle. 
Greece Road Tax: An increase of 7,6 % is added to the tolls on the highways throughout Greece.

1st Mar 2024:

Czech Republic road tax: New toll component introduced that take into account CO2 emissions. Apply to trucks over 3.5 tonnes.
Italy new road tax system: On 1 March 2024, the ASTI CUNEO motorway (Piemont region, south of Turin) will expand its conventional closed toll system to include several FreeFlow toll beacons.

Sustainability: Driving change at DSV

Now and in the future

From decentralized testing to strategic decarbonization planning

Through close cooperation with manufacturers and our hauliers, DSV is testing potential low- and zero-emission technologies that can help decarbonize the industry. While some of these solutions is still maturing, technologies like battery electric vehicles is ready for deployment in certain scenarios and operations. BEV’s therefor plays a key role in decarbonizing our fleet in the upcoming years. 

DSV's 2030 targets graph reduction in absolute GHG emission from 2019 baseline 2030 T argets Scope 1 - 2 50% Scope 3 30%
  • Deploying more than 300 BEVs to our operations in 2024 and 2025.
  • By 2030, we expect to have more than 2,000 BEVs in our operations as well other low- and zero-emission truck technologies, in addition to trucks using HVO fuel
  • We expect at least 5,000 of our third-party trucks to operate at best –in-class (BIC) level by 2030

Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)

About BEV

Technologies like battery electric vehicles are ready for deployment in certain scenarios and operations. BEV’s therefore play a key role in decarbonising our fleet in the coming years.
We are deploying +300 BEV’s to our operations in 2024 and 2025 in identified key markets.

Getting energy capacity

By 2030, we expect to have more than 2,000 BEVs in our operations. Access to charging infrastructure and the necessary grid connection sets the pace for how quickly we can put BEVs into operations. By establishing key countries for deployment, we can also focus our efforts on establishing the required infrastructure in coordination with DSV energy and 3rd party charging providers.

DSV Sustainability Impact Map

Explore our impact map to discover the range of initiatives supporting sustainability across our global operations.

DSVs sustainability impact platform map

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