The overall picture for global freight shows no change since the previous quarter. Total external trade by sea and air, in tonnes, remains stagnant below pre-crisis levels in EU27 and the USA. Imports and exports by sea continue to show diverging trends. While imports by sea stagnate below pre-crisis levels, exports by sea in   EU27 and the USA reach 29% and 23% above pre-crisis peak albeit showing signs of slowing down for the latter. Total external trade by air for both EU27 and the USA remain -4% and - 3% below pre-crisis levels respectively (Figures 1-5).

EU-27 and USA exports to Asia and BRICS show continuous growth and Asia remains the locomotive of growth. China’s total external trade by sea and air, in values, was 55% and 59% above the pre-crisis peak. Imports to China from Europe and North America by sea outpace export growth and were 85% and 75% above pre-crisis peak. Imports by air also experience similar growth (Figures 6-8).

Intra-Asian trade, which accounts for nearly half of China’s total external trade in value, remains strong. China’s external trade by sea with ASEAN and South Asian countries reached 126% and 39% above pre-crisis levels while external trade by air increased to 30% and 88% above pre-crisis peak.

Freight by sea, air and road to China’s neighbouring CIS countries and Russia grows strongly while rail cargo continues to stagnate below pre-crisis levels. The rail share of external trade has been decreasing since 2005 (Figures 9-10). Inland freight transport reflects diverging trends between developed and emerging economies. Rail freight in the EU area remains below pre-crisis peak while stagnating at pre-crisis levels in the USA. Road freight in the EU area remains 11% below pre-crisis levels.

Growth is stronger in emerging markets; Rail freight volumes in Russia and Turkey were 5% and in China 20% above pre-crisis levels. Road freight volume in Russia, in turn, reached 14% above the pre-crisis peak in 4Q/13 (Figures 11-12).
http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/statistics/StatBrief/2014-07-Freight-Diverging-Trends.pdf
Source: International Transport Forum