The line graph illustrates the number of goods transported by four different modes (road, water, rail and pipeline) between 1974 and 2002. The figures are measured in million tonnes.
Overall, road transport consistently carried the largest quantity of goods over the given period, whereas pipeline accounted for the least. Water and pipeline transportation shows some stable changes but gradual increase in the end while road and rail fluctuated slightly but ended the year with moderate increases.
In 1974, road transport stood at around 70 million tonnes and rose gradually with some fluctuations over the years, reaching nearly 100 million tonnes in the last year. Likewise, rail transport began at 40 million tonnes in the first year, with some oscillation in mid 1990s and 2000s, before ending at roughly the same level as at the start.
In contrast, water transport remained stable over five years, beginning with just under 40 million tonnes and finishing with its peak at approximately 65 million tonnes. Pipeline transport started at nearly 4 million tonnes and then remained the same, hovering at around 15 million tonnes throughout early 1990s. It saw a slight increase around 1992, prior to flattening out again just over 20 million tonnes.