Energy efficiency in freight transport by road

This issue of the FAL Bulletin addresses energy efficiency and its challenges in terms of freight transport by road. To this end, different national plans for energy efficiency in transport were reviewed, for both developed countries and for Latin America.

The Evolution of Modal Split in Freight Transport in South America, 2000-2013

This FAL Bulletin analyzes data on commodities traded and the modes of transport used between nine South American countries, during 2000, 2006, 2010 and 2013. The aim is to identify the current modal split in intraregional freight transport in South America, and to ascertain the level and evolution of trade flows, imbalances and the burden of transport and insurance costs. The authors conclude with some policy recommendations.

Competition and complementarity between road and rail transport in the carriage of freight

A seminar on competition and complementarity between road and rail transport in the carriage of freight was conducted at ECLAC Headquarters on 6-7 November 2001. The seminar was attended by experts on transport matters from a range of countries, and their presentations covered the current state of integration of transport in countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico. Also in attendance was an expert from Central America, who spoke about modal integration of freight transport in that region. Three round-table discussions were held with the participation of representatives of the trucking and rail sectors, drawn from both the private and public spheres.

Latin America and the Caribbean in the World Economy 2007: 2008 trends

Includes bibliography

Maritime sector and ports in the Caribbean: the case of CARICOM countries

Includes bibliography

Are we building competitive and liveable cities?: Guidelines for developing eco-efficient and socially inclusive infrastructure

This guideline jointly published by The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), in partnership with the Urban Design Lab of the Earth Institute, Columbia University, provides practical tools for city planners and decision makers to reform urban planning and infrastructure design according to the principles of eco-efficiency and social inclusiveness. It includes case studies from the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Japan and Sri Lanka.

Freight rates, the maritime cycle and transport capacity in late 2006

The previous edition of the FAL bulletin presented the price indices of maritime transport in three main market segments. This edition includes an analysis of the maritime cycle and trends in the transport capacity of the routes that in turn serve the routes of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Maritime transport liberalization and the challenges to further its implementation in Chile

Includes bibliography

Trade and maritime transport between Africa and South America

Includes bibliography

Concessions and road and rail transport optimization

Includes bibliography

Ocean freight, shipbuilding costs and charter rates: recent trends

This issue of the Bulletin provides a brief overview of the maritime transport industry in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on the behaviour of freight rates and the costs associated with chartering and shipbuilding, all of which increased sharply in 2003. Three separate markets will be analysed: 1) the containerized general cargo market; 2) the dry bulk cargo market and 3) the liquid bulk (crude oil and oil products) market. This study has incorporated contributions made by professional experts in the field and institutions associated with ports and maritime transport in the region, received subsequent to the study prepared and disseminated in January 2004.

Maritime Transport Price Indices in Late 2006

Since the worldwide freight crisis that began in mid-2002, maritime transport prices have remained higher than pre-crisis levels and have proved to be fairly volatile. This edition of the Bulletin is the first one of the year to analyse maritime transport markets. It covers price trends in three maritime transport markets: containers, bulk carriers, and petroleum and refinery byproducts.

Competitiveness and efficiency in land transport

One of the consequences of the opening of the worlds economies - an integral part of globalization - is increased focus on the efficiency and costs of transport services (on which competitiveness is largely dependent). Countries with inefficient and costly transport services lose out, in terms of economic activity and income, to those with more appropriate transport services. The issue is particularly important in Latin America, where exports mainly consist of bulk consignments of products with comparatively low value/quantity ratios and transport costs are a major determining factor of c.i.f. prices.The determination of competitiveness indices in the long term, however, also needs to include the costs of pollution, congestion and accidents, in addition to the transport costs usually considered as part of the price of freight. Competitiveness, efficiency and the global costs of transport were the main subjects of an international seminar organized in conjunction with the Chilean Institute of Engineers and held on 9 and 10 September 2004 at the Headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).