The financial crisis, which struck the Asian region in 1997, had many profound and far-reaching consequences for both the countries involved and the world as a whole. This study examines one aspect of the impact of the crisis on Australia the adequacy of the air freight network to carry Australian exports to Asian markets. Air freight exports are predominantly carried in the belly-holds of passenger aircraft. This study examines the contraction in passenger markets resulting from the financial crisis and analyses the implications for air freight exports. It also examines the demand for Australian air exports and constructs an air freight supply and demand scenario for twelve Asian countries. The study was completed for the Cross-Modal and Maritime Transport Division of the Department of Transport and Regional Services in response to questions raised by the Transport and Logistics Working Group of the Supermarket to Asia Council concerning perceptions of the availability of export air freight capacity to Asian markets.

• The Supply of Air Freight Capacity to Asian Markets
  
  wp_042.pdf
  (755.11 KB)

The paper provides information on coastal freight movements between Australian ports. It covers cargoes loaded and discharged at Australian ports during 1998–99.

• Coastal Freight in Australia 1998–99
  
  ip_046.pdf
  (231.46 KB)

This information sheet provides estimates of non-bulk freight flows over seven intercity corridors for the 25 years from 1970 to 1995.

• Freight Between Australian Cities
  
  is_017.pdf
  (181.96 KB)

This paper presents the results of preliminary BTE work on logistics in Australia. It draws on the BTE's experience and expertise in the transport sector, and also incorporates information on logistics from sources such as a literature review. The performance of the logistics system has a major impact on cost structures, revenues, service quality, and competitiveness in Australian industry. Logistics activities have been evolving rapidly in response to changes such as globalisation, general industry restructuring, new production processes, and technological advances. Many firms, government agencies and joint industry/government bodies are developing programs to improve logistics performance in Australia. The initiatives include the Freight Transport Logistics Industry Action Agenda. This paper develops a broad framework for analysing logistics activities. It also examines three priority issues identified by the Secretariat for the development of the Action Agenda the economic significance of logistics in Australia, the extent of integration, and the dimensions of a full economic study.

• Logistics in Australia: A Preliminary Analysis
  
  wp_049.pdf
  (1.71 MB)

This study analyses and forecasts trends in the usage of containers for the carriage of Australia's seaborne freight over the period 2001–02 to 2010–11. The study also estimates the proportion of 40-foot containers used in Australia's inbound and outbound seaborne trade and assesses the implications of their increasing use over time.

• Australia's Seaborne Containerised Freight: Forecasts to 2010–11
  
  wp_050.pdf
  (5.86 MB)

This paper provides estimates of interstate non-bulk freight rates. The estimates show that, in real terms, it has never been cheaper to ship goods in Australia.

• Freight Rates in Australia
  
  is_019.pdf
  (613.51 KB)

This paper provides estimates of non-bulk freight flows over seven intercity corridors for three decades from 1972 to 2001. Earlier estimates to 1995 were published in Information Sheet 17.

• Freight Between Australian Cities 1972 to 2001
  
  is_022.pdf
  (191.2 KB)

This paper presents the results of a desk study of the road freight industry. The aim of the study is to update our knowledge of the Australian freight industry by bringing together and analysing information that is currently available. The study is intended as a 'building block' for a future larger survey-based study of the road freight and logistics industries. It is now 20 years since comprehensive studies of the road freight industry were undertaken, by the Bureau of Transport Economics and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

• An Overview of the Australian Road Freight Transport Industry
  
  wp_060.pdf
  (1.06 MB)

This paper presents the results of applying a policy model to simulate the effects on greenhouse gas emissions from trucking in Sydney of various abatement scenarios. These include vehicle efficiency scenarios, traffic efficiency scenarios and alternative infrastructure and land use scenarios. The model developed is quite comprehensive. It includes the effects of the interaction of trucks with car traffic in the city. And it extends the results, not only to the recognised greenhouse gases, but also to the effect of the scenarios on pollutant emissions from road transport and thus on pollution in the Sydney airshed. The research reported on here shows that, using the model developed, answers can be given as to detailed effects of transport policy measures on emissions in Sydney. Just as importantly, it points to methods that can be used to build such a model in other cities. The series of five technical papers describing the construction and make-up of the model and its capabilities is available on the CSIRO website (www.energytransformed.csiro.au). CSIRO was the co-ordinator of the research, with Parsons Brinckerhoff and the Transport Systems Centre of the University of South Australia contributing components. CSIRO prepared this report. The Transport and Population Data Centre of the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources provided the datasets of traffic and now owns the model framework. All of the research was made possible by a grant from the Australian Greenhouse Office.

• Modelling Responses of Urban Freight Patterns to Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scenarios
  
  wp_062.pdf
  (2.37 MB)

Paper given to the Grains West Expo 2005 at Scarborough Beach WA, 19–20 July by David Gargett, Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics.

• Freight rates and competitiveness
  
  sp_001_freight_rates.pdf
  (1.41 MB)