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Foreword
CCNR
The Market Observation annual report of the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) builds on years of close cooperation with the European Commission. The 2023 edition portrays a difficult year 2022 for the European economy including for inland navigation. Overall, the global economic context darkened in 2022 for most of the Rhine and Danube countries. It faced, and still is facing, uncertainty given its exposure to a great deal of shocks, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the start of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, with destructive consequences for many people. The aftermath of this war for Europe and its economy should not be underestimated. In fact, the global economy was characterised by high inflation in 2022, weakening of GDP growth, falling consumer confidence, oil price volatility, high gas prices, a global energy crisis, repressed demand, longstanding supply chain disruptions, and commodity price increases. It is also not without consequences for the inland navigation sector which has suffered from these difficult macroeconomic framework conditions. To name but a few, inflation further deteriorated the already weakened private consumption, which in turn had a negative impact on container transport. For bulk markets in Europe, rising energy prices translated into an increase of production costs. This negatively impacted bulk transport overall, with the exception of coal transport. Global trade was also negatively impacted by this situation as reflected in the throughput figures of major seaports such as the Port of Rotterdam or the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which suffered a decline.
The low-water period in July and August 2022, on the Rhine in particular, came as an additional blow and had negative impacts on inland navigation transport. In fact, the occurrence of this low-water episode was a renewed reminder that this natural phenomenon is of urgent concern, with significant ecological, economic and social impacts. Such extreme weather conditions can limit efficient navigation on inland waterways in the short-term, while in the long-term, it might drive the modal choices of shippers away from inland navigation. Yet, the inland navigation sector has a vital role to play in achieving the ambitious modal shift and emission reduction targets in the transport sector that have been set at international level. Inland navigation will continue to be indispensable, especially for carrying large freight volumes or for the transport of heavy and oversized goods in the future. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight that the CCNR is committed to overcoming this challenge. In particular, it facilitates dialogue between the relevant industrial, logistical, political and environmental organisations and continuously monitors the impact of such low water events through market observation activities and its “Act now!” process. In this context, I am also very pleased to share this Foreword with Mr Helmut Habersack, President of the International Commission for the Hydrology of the Rhine basin (CHR) whose contributions are essential to address the low water problem.
In light of the challenges lying ahead, but also the expected transformation of inland navigation transport, under the impulse of important trends such as energy transition, the role of the CCNR Market Observation reports is more than ever essential. Indeed, the monitoring on a yearly basis of the European inland navigation market situation, as well as its evolution and structural development, supports decision-making at various levels for the benefit of European inland waterway transport (IWT).
In line with previous reports, the 2023 edition analyses macroeconomic conditions, national investments in inland waterway transport infrastructure, commodity prices, trend developments related to goods segments and river basins, IWT in ports, operating conditions related to water levels and freight rates, the fleet of inland vessels, employment, passenger transport and an outlook of the main inland navigation market segments.
In relation to transport on the Rhine, not only the cargo volumes transported on the traditional Rhine (from Basel to the German-Dutch border) were analysed, but for the first time, so were the volumes transported in the lower Rhine delta in the Netherlands. This was made possible thanks to the support of the Rijkswaterstaat. A comprehensive analysis regarding transport volumes on the Rhine from Basel to the North Sea will therefore be presented from now onwards in the annual reports. This enables a more detailed analysis to be produced per Rhine stretches, and to better grasp the dynamics regarding transport of goods per type of products along the Rhine. We are thankful for this new cooperation which can only improve the quality of our reports in the years to come.
It goes without saying that we would also like to thank all the contributors to this report, our long-standing partners with whom we always have the pleasure of cooperating: the Danube, Moselle and Sava Commissions, Eurostat and national statistical offices, ports, national and regional waterway administrations as well as professional organisations, in particular the European Barge Union (EBU), the European Skippers’ Organisation (ESO) and the Corporation Inland Tanker Barge Owners (CITBO).
I hope that you will enjoy reading the 2023 edition of our annual report and that it will provide the insights you are awaiting.
Lucia Luijten
Secretary General
Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR)
CITBO
The added value of cooperation
As we reflect on another year of operations, we are proud to present once again our comprehensive annual CITBO figures, which encapsulate the achievements, challenges, and growth of our inland tanker shipping corporation. These statistics are not just numbers and data points; they are a testament to the dedication, hard work, and a result of trust of our team and our members.
As we are a commercial cooperation, we do admit it has been a challenge to collect these statistics year after year from our members. Collaboration is key in our point of view, a value we hold seriously. Even with more than 170 vessels amongst our members, market related data is and will stay a sensitive matter. Thus, we are proud to have found an approach to collaborate on market data in an anonymous way and to have created an added value in reporting on it. The collaboration with the CCNR is a tremendous driver in this matter, with their high-level reporting and analysis skills.
The Market Observation reports provide a detailed analysis of the trends, opportunities, and challenges within the inland tanker shipping sector. They offer valuable insights into market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and emerging technologies that shape our industry. These reports are a cornerstone of strategic planning, enabling us to navigate the complexities of the market with agility and foresight.
We have been involved in these reports during some of the most challenging events that have taken place in the past decade. Since 2017 we can state the impact of the war on the energy market, the shortage of crew and of course the ongoing zero-emission challenge for the whole fleet, which are all of utmost importance to keep a watch over. These Market Observation reports allow us to have a rare opportunity to (re)view these trends and create a perspective which is bigger than our own. The continuation of these reports is therefore self-evident in our opinion.
We would like to extend a heartfelt word of thanks to the CCNR and collaborators who have integrated our company’s statistics into this prolonged collaboration. The trust, support, and partnership have been instrumental in our journey. Together, we have not only weathered the challenges but also seized opportunities for growth and added value.
As we move forward, we remain committed to our core values of reliability, sustainability, and collaboration. We look forward to continuing our journey with you, building on our successes and exploring new horizons in inland tanker shipping.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
Daisy Rycquart
Director CITBO
Corporation Inland Tanker Barge Owners