High cargo volumes from Oslo and Akershus

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In 2014, about one third of all shipments from establishments within mining and quarrying, manufacturing, sewage and collection of waste and wholesale trade were sent from Oslo and Akershus to recipients around the country. This corresponds to 21.8 million tonnes.

In total, 62.8 million tonnes of outbound deliveries were transported from establishments within these industries in 2014. This is reflected in the results from the commodity flow survey conducted in 2014, where the distribution pattern within and between different regions in selected industries is examined. Light is also shed on imports and exports of goods using data from the external trade statistics.

Figur 1

Figure 1. Percentage distribution of outgoing shipments from different industries measured in tonnes. 2014

Wholesale dominates

A total of 43.6 million tonnes of goods were transported from establishments within wholesale trade in 2014, of which 19.1 million tonnes were transported from Oslo and Akershus. The largest recipients outside the sender area were the three northernmost counties in Western Norway, which received 3.5 million tonnes. These three counties received the most goods from wholesale trade establishments around the country, with a total of 8.3 million tonnes. Oslo and Akershus and the rest of Eastern Norway received 7.3 and 7.1 million tonnes respectively.

Figur 2

Figure 2. Distribution of outgoing shipments measured in tons in different divisions within manufacturing  etc. 2014

One third of wholesale trade is in household goods

Within the wholesale trade, the industry that generates most of the transport is 'Wholesale trade, except motor vehicles and motor cycles'. Within this industry group, transport from 'Wholesale of household goods for personal consumption' represents 14.0 of a total of 43.0 million tonnes. Next is 'Wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies' and 'Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco', with 8.1 and 7.9 million tonnes respectively.

Significant deliveries from manufacturing industries in Western Norway

A total of 17.7 million tonnes were transported from manufacturing establishments. From the three northernmost counties in Western Norway, 6.5 million tonnes were transported, of which 1.0 million tonnes went southward to Agder and Rogaland, while 1.9 million tonnes were transported internally in the three counties.

Figur 3

Figure 3. Distribution of outgoing shipments measured in tons for different groups within wholesale trade. 2014

The same three western counties received 3.8 million tonnes of the transport from the country's manufacturing establishments. Agder and Rogaland received 2.8 million tonnes, while Oslo and Akershus was the destination for a total of 2.7 million tonnes, mainly from Western Norway with 700 000 tonnes and South Eastern Norway with 800 000 tonnes. Manufacturing industries sent 2.1 million tonnes to Northern Norway. Western Norway made up the majority of these shipments, with 900 000 tonnes.

The 'Oil refining and chemical pharmaceutical industry' transports the most, with 4.5 million tonnes. Next is the 'Food, beverages and tobacco industry', which produces 3.6 million tonnes. 'Printing industry' and 'Furniture and computer industries' represented 2.0 and 1.7 million tonnes of goods respectively.

Recycling and waste generate a lot of transport

A total of 683 000 tonnes were transported from establishments within the collection and recycling of waste domestically in 2014. Much of this is transported within the regions, but a total of 111 000 tonnes were transported from Oslo and Akershus to Northern Norway, out of a total of 167 000 tonnes. The situation is also similar in the Trøndelag counties, where 53 000 of 57 000 tonnes were transported to Northern Norway.

Figur 4

Figure 4. Shipments between regions in Norway within manufacturing, mining, quarrying, wholesales and refuse transport. Million tonnes. 2014

Exports and imports

In 2014, 78 million and 41 million tonnes of goods were exported and imported respectively. A total of 89 per cent of total exports were transported by ship/ferry out of the country, and 67 million tonnes were imported. After cargo at sea, lorry is the most commonly used mode of transport. A large part of the exports and imports is transported by lorry within Scandinavia and to and from the Baltic region. Sixty-eight per cent of all goods imported from Sweden are transported by lorry. The corresponding figure for Finland is 52 per cent. A large part of the imports from the Baltic countries and Poland is transported by lorry. In total, 29 per cent of imported goods were transported by lorry. Around 2 per cent of imported goods were transported by rail.

Figur 5

Figure 5. Commodity flow from wholesale businesses. Regions. 1 000 tonnes

Figur 6

Figure 6. Commodity flow from manufacturing establishments. Regions. 1 000 tonnes

Scope and uncertainty

This is the second commodity flow survey carried out in Norway. The commodity flow matrices represent the flow of goods measured in tonnes between the supply side (manufacturers, importers and wholesalers), and the consumer side (intermediate goods used in manufacturing and other goods-producing industries, agencies, wholesale and retail and export of these industries). In addition to the amount of goods, the material also gives information on the value of goods, where the goods are shipped from and the receiver at a postcode level. A shipment of goods represents a natural shipment from an establishment to a receiving operation, independent of the physical product value. Internal transport between different facilities or departments of an enterprise is also included in the survey. In addition, the information in the external trade statistics has been adapted to facilitate the analysis of the flow of goods for imports and exports to and from Norway.

The survey data is partly collected through forms and partly as a total count from the largest transporters in Norway. Total figures for the country are generated by imputing for partial non-response and unit non-response. The estimated total number of shipments and tonnes transported entails a degree of uncertainty. The material’s strength is the large number of shipments, which enables the creation of a good-quality distribution pattern on a postcode level for most sub-industries. Some industry sub-groups are, however, poorly covered, such as the transport of gravel etc., or more generally, transfers to plants where the delivery address in the form of postcode is not available or naturally known.

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