The export of services of transport and logistics companies reached 5.87 billion last year. euros

According to him, last year the sector operated under intense conditions of economic uncertainty caused by the economic slowdown and the simultaneous increase in corporate costs, as well as the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

“So far, we don’t see any signs that this year will be any easier.” Both the industry in Lithuania and in Europe experienced difficulties last year, so a sudden growth in production and consumption is not expected, which would lead to a noticeably more active movement of goods”, P. Drižas said in the report.

He added that in the last quarter of last year, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2022. period, the value of our country’s freight road transport services export shrank by 7.5 percent.

“This is a significant contraction – the end of the year showed that companies faced increased operating costs that accumulated during the current period,” said P. Drižas.

According to him, the sharp increase in interest rates in 2022-2023 significantly increased borrowing costs for businesses. New equipment, vehicles and semi-trailers have also become more expensive.

Especially since the increasing political pressure of the European Union to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by transport in Europe encourages investment in new generation truck models and engines with lower pollution, which consume less fuel.

Despite the fact that last year there was a fixed contraction of transport service rates due to the imbalance of supply and demand, it did not have a negative impact on the labor market. On the contrary, the number of drivers of heavy vehicles in 2024 at the beginning it reached 88.3 thousand. and was 9.4 percent. higher than a year ago, said P. Drižas.

TTLA unites the country’s largest international transport and logistics companies, whose total turnover reaches more than 80 percent. of the entire country’s freight road transport revenue. Association members carry out international cargo operations in Europe, Asia and other regions of the world by all modes of transport, including road, air, water and rail transport.