The forecasted road freight volume for wood, cork, straw, plaiting, pulp and paper, printed matter, and recorded media products in the UK is projected to decline gradually from 2024 to 2028, starting at 5.52 billion tonne-kilometers in 2024 and decreasing to 4.67 billion tonne-kilometers by 2028. This represents a continuous year-on-year decline of approximately 4-5% annually. In 2023, the actual value stood at 5.74 billion tonne-kilometers, illustrating a noticeable downward trend forecasted over the upcoming years with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around -4.4% from 2024 to 2028.

Future trends to watch for include:

Potential shifts in consumer demand for durable wood and paper products contributing to changes in freight demand.
Impact of evolving environmental regulations and compliance requirements on logistics and road freight strategies.
Advancements in logistics technology and their adoption which could influence the efficiency and volume of road freight operations.
Economic factors, such as post-Brexit trade policies and their effect on domestic and international transportation within the UK logistics sector.