Polish Transportation Report

The economic downturn has failed to lead to lowering of the volumes of transported goods, though the number of passengers transported decreased palpably. In Jan-Sep, 2009, transport of goods rose to 303.89mn tonnes from 281.58mn tonnes a year before. At that time, transport of passengers fell to 624.50mn people from 713.19mn people.

The transport and storage industry's financial situation deteriorated in H1/2009, compared to a year before, but the decline was not particularly steep. Net revenues fell to PLN 33.58bn from 34.70bn, while sales' financial result totalled PLN 525mn vs. PLN 521.5mn, respectively.

Even though macroeconomic data and forecasts are more and more unified in predicting the pending end of the economic downturn, it might still be some time before the transport sector steers clear of dangers. Some experts predict that around 10% of the industry's 4.20mn entities might go bankrupt this year. So far this year, 42 companies have gone out of business compared to 110 in the whole of 2008.

Others argue that the crisis in the transport sector is by far more serious than in other branches of the Polish economy. Its symptoms came from the West and the main reason is a sudden slump of orders.

The infrastructure ministry has assessed the way EU resources are used for road and rail investments and noted an improvement in the former, but a worsening in the latter case. It is worthwhile to stress that airports' construction/ expansion projects -- and the entire road construction business - are part of the country's preparations for co-hosting football championship Euro 2012.