05/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Economic advance by BRIC countries confirmed for road sector also. According to the latest road transport data published by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) on Tuesday 4 January, the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) continue to drive forward economic recovery in the road transport sector. Figures show that the four countries notched up growth of 14.6% of GDP between 2008 and 2010, compared to 2.7% for the EU. During the same period, new vehicle registrations increased by 13.8% in BRIC countries, but fell by 40% in the EU, IRU reports. Forecasts for 2011 show continued growth in demand for new vehicles in the BRIC countries (up to about 7.8%), while OCDE and EU figures will remain 40% below their 2008 level with, respectively, 1.6% and 2.1% growth. IRU indications allow a comparison to be made between GDP growth, new vehicle registrations and road freight volumes. At the end of the year, data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) showed similar economic progress for Indian, Brazilian and Chinese aviation compared to the situation in the aviation sector of the EU. (A.By./transl.jl)