IEA: IEA contributes to Brazilian government report on energy efficiency of road freight sector

Brazil has significant opportunities to improve the energy intensity of its road freight sector, which is responsible for an estimated 13% of energy demand in the country, according to a report by the country’s Energy Research Office (EPE) that includes notable contributions from the IEA.

The report, Road Freight Transport: International Benchmarking, is being released today in English and Portuguese by the EPE, which advises Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy. The IEA’s contributions to the report include technical analysis and case study development, highlighting the Agency’s strong cooperation with key institutions in this major emerging economy.

The analysis looks at how the efficiency of Brazil’s road freight sector over recent decades compares with those of other large economies. It outlines the impact of fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and modal shifts, as well as the influence of policies and programmes. It goes on to highlight international case studies that could provide insights for improving future policy in Brazil, where the road freight sector mainly consists of heavy duty vehicles.

The analysis results from close cooperation between the IEA and EPE, reflecting the value of detailed technical exchanges in helping inform decision-making. The two organisations have collaborated on several major publications in recent years, most recently in early 2021 when the IEA contributed two chapters to the Brazilian Atlas of Energy Efficiency. Brazil is the single largest energy consumer in South America, and one of eight IEA Association countries, which work closely with the Agency on important energy issues.

The Road Freight Transport: International Benchmarking report represents the ongoing success of the IEA’s work with EPE and other Brazilian institutions. Brazil is a key partner in the Agency’s Energy Efficiency in Emerging Economies (E4) programme, which seeks to build capacity within, and support for, energy efficiency improvements in some of the world’s largest energy-consuming countries. The IEA looks forward to continued collaboration with Brazil.