Strengths, Weaknesses, Trends, and Objectives – European Chemical Transport Sector

This blog provides several links to information on strengths, weaknesses, trends, objectives, and other aspects of the European chemical transport sector.  The source of most of this information is the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and the European Chemical Transport Association (ECTA).  In addition to the links, a few highlights of the information found at the websites linked to are provided.  The date range for the information at the websites is from 2011 to 2013.

Strengths and Weaknesses.   ChemLog, a collaborative group of members from various central and eastern European countries, identify several strengths of chemical logistics in central and eastern Europe.  Click here for information on these strengths.  Weaknesses are also identified.

In a 2012 market intelligence article, ICIS identifies the following European transport problems (weaknesses):  escalating fuel costs; shortages of qualified drivers; poor European inter-operability; and non-harmonization across Europe.  Click here to read more about these and other weaknesses.

A CEFIC presentation identifies several challenges (current weaknesses).  Challenges include: obstacles to using intermodal transport; difficulties in obtaining infrastructure improvements; and poor best practices implementation.  Click here for more details on these challenges.  Strengths (progress made) for the European chemical transport sector are discussed.

The Safety & Quality Assessment System (SQAS), developed by CEFIC, provides chemical companies an assessment tool to evaluate the quality, safety, security, and environmental performances of chemical transport companies.  Click here to read about SQAS.  Such an assessment tool is a strength for a chemical transport sector.

Trends and Objectives.  CEFIC issued a report in 2011, Chemical Logistics Vision 2020, which identifies key trends, as well as suggested solutions.  One trend is the consolidation of the European chemical industry into concentrations of production facilities (bigger, and fewer, clusters), which will affect logistics.  Click here to read about these and other trends.

A list of strategies for improving chemical transport in central and eastern Europe is provided by the collaborative group ChemLog.  This list can be viewed by clicking here.  One objective is the improvement of intermodal transport.

ECTA and CEFIC identify objectives for reducing chemical transport glasshouse gas admissions across Europe in a jointly-issued report.  Click here to read this report.

If you would like further research and more in-depth analysis on the European chemical transport sector, please contact me at rltorian@msn.com.