Transport and Covid-19: responses and resources

Capacity to Grow: Transport Infrastructure Needs for Future Trade Growth

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This report examines what increased global trade means for the world’s transport infrastructure. Growing, more complex international freight flows will change capacity requirements and reshape the global transport networks over coming decades. Policy makers today must understand how these forces are likely to play out and what uncertainties exist with regard to these developments. Only then can they ensure adequate and timely investment into transport infrastructure that continue to serve as the backbone of global trade and economic development. The analysis builds on the award-winning International Freight Model of the International Transport Forum (ITF) that has been further refined to account for future capacity needs and improve the accuracy of projections looking towards the year 2050.

Policy Insights

  • Develop planning tools to adapt to uncertainties: Good port planning means planning for uncertainties.
  • Increase port capacity by optimising existing terminals.
  • Take a holistic planning approach to improving port capacity needs as part of the entire supply chain.
  • Use funding as a balancing tool in port capacity development.

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