Changes in Cargo Movement due to the Effects of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

This study analyses and discusses how the unique cargo movements in Japan and changes in the social environment during the COVID-19 pandemic have affected social life. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, cargo movements in Japan have undergone significant changes. This study analyses cargo movements in Japan by showing correlation coefficients to indicate the extent to which each industry was affected by the spread of the new coronavirus to infected persons. The heightened awareness of the pandemic caused by the state of emergency led to the closure of many stores and a decline in outbound shipments. Although the volume of incoming shipments increased, the volume of outgoing shipments did not. As a result, warehouse vacancy rates declined. Therefore, the study revealed that distribution centers in Japan are becoming more self-sufficient, and cloud-based logistics information systems are becoming more widely used. © 2023 Kuninori Suzuki et al., published by Sciendo.