Gerard Mostert, Betrex Espana:
EU: ''Situation Spanish transport sector dramatic''
The European recession in Spain has ensured that the overall economy in the country is at a stop, also the transport sector. The crisis has left many Spaniards unemployed. There are many companies which have closed. The result is that less shipping and transport units go towards the Benelux, because little can be shipped back to Spain.
It was always Spanish drivers, who we met on the European roads, now we rarely see a truck on our road network. "It's difficult in our industry," says Gerard Mostert. "Many companies, transportation companies, but also importers and exporters here have it rough. Not only small businesses but also the bigger boys. Recently a transporter company with 900 trailers and 600 tractors has gone out of business. This give an example of how dire the situation at this moment."
"Compared to fifteen years ago it is striking how many fewer Dutch and Belgians there are with fruit and veg in the trailer," says Mostert. "They are still there, but they are especially active in other product groups, which are not seasonal. It seems it is nice to drive with oranges and tangerines for nine weeks in the winter for a nice price, but the year has 52 weeks. Nowadays they prefer driving with other industrial products, here better annual prices for the Dutch carriers can still be achieved. Still even this is happening less and less because in Northern Europe there is clearly a decline in overall import. Often they need to drive deep into France, to get a return load."
The poor economy has considerably thinned out the Spanish transport sector. Less transport units from Spain during the season has resulted in a price increase. Gerard: "The importers have complained bitterly for years about these high prices. This year, prices have again risen by about fifteen percent compared to last year. I do not expect in the short term that this will change. The Spanish hauliers have also been hard hit in this situation. More and more companies are failing because after years of recession they have used there reserves and the banks won't help. We see this especially in Spain, but in the Netherlands you also hear these stories more and more."
According to Gerard, it is difficult doing business only on the basis of trust with fruit and vegetable exporters. The bad situation in the trade moves also to transport over payment problems. Lately, Mostert had to deal with deferred payments and in some cases, he has had to write off the money. "I have already had problems with three well known companies," he worried. "We are told that deferred payment has been sought and under that guise the account is not paid. Then it is a matter of waiting until the bankruptcy. Here unfortunately it is different to The Netherlands. Roughly, it means that half will be waived and that the other half is, if you're lucky, refunded. But then spread over a period of eleven years!"
Gerard is happy that his company is still healthy and has no problems. "We are happily still going strong, but we are of course ready for anything.