The average freight cost per kilometer traveled closed September at R$ 6.44, after a 1.30% increase compared to August. This is indicated by the Edenred Repom Freight Index (IFR). One of the reasons for the variation is the warming of industrial activity, mainly in the construction and consumer goods sectors. According to the Brazilian Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), the sector rose to 53.2 in September from 50.4 in the previous month, considering the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction, on the indicator with a variation scale from 0 to 100.
“The impact on freight prices has been caused by the increase in demand for transportation from the industrial sector. Regarding fuel, we have observed stability in the price of diesel, which, according to the Edenred Ticket Log Price Index (IPTL), ended September at R$6.10 for the common type, stable compared to August, and S-10 at R$6.17, after a slight increase of 0.16%”, comments Vinicios Fernandes, Director of Edenred Repom.
Furthermore, according to Fernandes, there is an expectation of an increase in the dollar price, which is expected to remain until the end of the year, and in the SELIC rate – which is expected to stay above the projected level at the beginning of 2024, potentially contributing to the upward trend in freight prices. "These two factors directly impact the operating costs of transportation companies, both in fuel prices and fleet maintenance," explains the Director of Edenred Repom.
The IFR is an index of the average freight price and its composition, based on the 8 million annual freight and toll transactions managed by Edenred Repom. Edenred Repom, the brand of Edenred Brazil's Mobility business line, has been specialized in managing and paying expenses for the freight transportation market for 30 years, leading in the freight payment and toll voucher segment with 8 million transactions annually and over 1 million truck drivers served across Brazil.
