Section 2. Cargo Transport
1. Total Cargo Transport Volume
In fiscal 1975, the volume of domestic cargo transport was 5.03 billion
tons (1.1% decrease from the preceding fiscal year) or 360.8 billion ton-kilometers
(4.0% decrease from the preceding fiscal year). The volume of cargo carried
by transport facilities other than private trucks and air-crafts fell below
the preceding fiscal year. A sharp fall from the preceding fiscal year was recorded
with railways. (Table 1-3-3).
From the standpoint of commodities, primary products, including mining products,
agricultural, livestock and fishery products, increased. The decrease of secondary
products became smaller this year compared with the preceding fiscal year. (Table
1-3-4)
Of the total domestic cargo transport (in ton-kilometers), coastal shipping
had the share of 50.9%, motor vehicles had 36.0%, railways had 13.1% (of which
National Railways account for 12.9%) in fiscal 1975. (Fig.
1-3-5), (Table 1-3-6).
2. Transition of Inter-regional Cargo Transport
The volume of inter-regional cargo transport made 220% increase during the
ten years from fiscal 1964 to fiscal 1974. Motor vehicles and coastal shipping
made specially large growth. A commodity-based study reveals that the growth of
mining products (primary products) became Small, but that the growth of secondary
products, such as products of metal and machinery industry and products of chemical
industry, was large. The inter-regional cargo transport related to regions other
than three districts along Tokaido increased by 2.5 times during this period.
On the other hand, the inter-regional cargo transport related to the three districts
along Tokaido increased by 2.1 times.
However, the latter accounts for 77.3% of the total inter-regional cargo transport
volume in fiscal 1974.
Taking the figures by modes of transport, the motor vehicle noted an increase
of 4.4 times and the coastal shipping an increase of 2.2 times, while the railways
showed a decrease to 84%.
