The graph illustrates the differences in the methods used to transport goods in China, namely road, sea and rail, over a 16-year period. The figures are given in million tonnes-kilometres.
It is clear that both road and sea recorded lower figure than rail at the beginning of the period. However, this trend changed over time and rail had become the least used transport. In contrast, road became the dominant, followed by sea ranking second at the end of ending of period.
In 2001, road was the lowest figure that of among three modes of transport, standing at around 0. 5 million tonnes-kilometres followed by sea was little bit higher than road. However, transport of rail stood at just over 1 million tonnes-kilometres, which was the highest line this year. After a eleven-year period, road experienced a dramatic increase, peaking at about 5 million tonnes-kilometres.
Sea transport rocketed to approximately 4. 5 million tonnes-kilometres, while rail transport grew steadily from 1. 5 to 3 million tonnes-kilometres. At the end of the period, road transport reached to 5 million tonnes-kilometres, which became the leading mode of transport. Sea was in second place, accounting for just over 4 million tonnes-kilometres. Rail declined slightly to around 2. 5 million tonnes-kilometres.