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Global Transport & Mobility
Humans have been always curious to traverse the earth and move from one location to another. The ancient times saw use of boats for water transport and horses and bullock-carts for surface transport. The steam engines revolutionised the global transport
For over 100+ years now, global transport developments have been tightly linked to products of crude oil refining and vice versa. Tansport sector currently accounts for nearly 60% of total oil demand
The road passenger transport discussions generally revolve around per capita incomes and vehicle ownership. In comparison to the case of passenger vehicles, in which car ownership has been driven by GDP per capita and where saturation, at least at higher income levels, plays a very important role, the expansion of the stock of commercial vehicles is closely linked to trade and economic growth
Vehicle ownership typically grows relatively slowly at the lowest levels of per capita income (less than and up to about $ 3,000 per capita), then about twice as fast as income at middle income levels ($ 3,000 to $10,000 per capita), and finally about as fast as income at higher income levels, before reaching saturation at the highest levels of income. OECD countries have demonstrated typical saturation levels at 450-600 vehicles per 1,000 persons, whereas US specifically has a higher level, ~800 vehicles/1,000 persons. China is nearing 200, while India is nearing 35
In the context of large developing countries like India and Indonesia and even in China, it is important to keep in mind whether a particular reported number includes or excludes 2-Wheelers, as 2-W account for a vast majority of total vehicles population
Rail continues to maintain its long-standing position as one of the pillars of passenger mobility and freight transport. Rail is among the most efficient and lowest emitting modes of transport
As the income levels rise, higher proportion of the population becomes air travellers. In the past forty years, the air passenger kilometres have expanded tenfold, three times greater than the global GDP growth, clearly reflecting high income elasticity of air travel
Like in case of Air Travel, the growth rate of international trade, with majority through Shipping, has consistently been higher than GDP growth, in this case, almost twice that of global economic activity
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