The figures indicate that the port is currently on track for yet another all-time high year for container volumes. At the same time, other segments show signs of an unstable economic climate.
The first half of the year saw a 5% increase in container volumes, reaching 467,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Notably, the upward trend in import volumes observed during the first quarter continues.
“The signals we received from the market earlier this year regarding increased purchasing power and demand have proven to be accurate. Export volumes are also continuing to rise, partly due to the Swedish forest industry expanding its exports via the Port of Gothenburg,” said Claes Sundmark, vice-president of sales at the Port of Gothenburg.
The second quarter of 2024 marks the 15th consecutive quarter of growth in the port’s total container volumes, representing a steady increase since the third quarter of 2020.
The number of containers transported to and from the port by rail has surged, with a growth of 6% over the first half of the year. This is attributed to a combination of growing volumes at existing destinations across the country, along with the addition of several new destinations to the port’s rail network.
RoRo stands for roll-on/roll-off, referring to trailers and other rolling cargo transported by ship. The Port of Gothenburg’s intra-European RoRo traffic connects to key transport hubs in Northern and Central Europe with high-frequency departures. The intra-European RoRo traffic decreased by 4% to 270,000 handled RoRo units during the first half of the year.
“This slowdown is linked to the continued uncertainty in the European economy. But relatively speaking, we have strong numbers in Gothenburg. If we look at comparable traffic in other ports, the decline is bigger,” added Sundmark.