09.06.201809:00:00UTC+00BRAZIL: Truck Drivers Strike Caused 13.4% Decrease In Road Traffic In May

The flow of vehicles on toll roads granted to the private sector in Brazil fell 13.4% in May 2018, compared to a year earlier, affected by the blockade of truck drivers throughout the country.

On the same basis of comparison, the reduction of light vehicles represented 9.8%, while that of heavy vehicles was 23.8%, said the Brazilian Association of Highway Concessionaires (ABCR).

Over April, after seasonal adjustment, the total index fell by 15% in May. In the period, traffic of light vehicles fell by 11.4% and heavy vehicles decreased by 27.7%. In the last 12 months, there was a 1.7% increase in the flow, with light vehicles up 1.8% and heavy vehicles up 1.6%.

"The total flow index showed the greatest contraction in the month-over-all of the historical series, which began in January 1999, when we considered the seasonal series of seasonal effects," said Tendencias Consultoria analyst Thiago Xavier.

According to him, the strike has significantly reduced the gains of the flow indicators acquired in recent months, which made negative the year-to-date variations (January to May 2018 over January to May 2017) of the total index and its openings (light and heavy), and is even more pronounced in the case of heavy goods.

Year-to-date, the total flow accumulates negative variation of 1% - until April there was a 2% rise.