European Freight Volumes Build Up

European Freight Volumes Build Up

The Port of Gothenburg six-monthly report published today shows that European freight volumes strengthened during the first half of the year whilst global container trade fell.


Around 30 per cent of Swedish imports and exports pass through the Port of Gothenburg. Fluctuations in the economy are reflected very clearly in variations in freight flows.

Ro-ro traffic, which accounts for a large proportion of seafreight in northern Europe, rose by three per cent during the first half of 2014. The highest increases were for trade with Germany (nine per cent), UK (eight per cent) and Belgium (eight per cent). In total, 286,000 ro-ro units were shipped during the period.

Magnus Kårestedt, CEO Port of Gothenburg, said:

“European freight has risen steadily for the past year or so thanks to the recovery in the economy. We have recently seen signs of a slow-down in growth in Europe although this has yet to be replicated in our volumes.”

Reduced global trade in containerised goods

Global trade commonly takes place using container vessels. During the first six months of the year, container traffic fell by nine per cent, with exports falling more than imports. In total, 424,000 containers were shipped via the Port of Gothenburg during the period.

“This could be an indication that Swedish trade with rapidly expanding economies in other parts of the world  is not growing at the same rate as previously,” Magnus Kårestedt continued.

The Port of Gothenburg handles almost 60 per cent of all containers shipped to or from Sweden.

Car exports continue to increase

In total, 89,000 new cars passed through the Port of Gothenburg during the first six months of the year, up 17 per cent on the corresponding period last year. The upturn can be attributed largely to the rise in exports of Volvo cars.

More ferry passengers

Passenger traffic rose by five per cent during the first half of the year. A total of 774,000 people chose to take the sea route to or from Gothenburg for business or pleasure. It has also been a record-breaking year for cruise ship visits with 73 calls (38 during the first half of the year) and 120,000 cruise passengers.

Downturn for oil

Gothenburg is also the location of the largest energy port in the Nordic region. During the first half of the year, there was an 11 per cent fall in crude oil imports and the shipping of refined products such as diesel and petrol. The underlying factors are low margins for refined products and uncertainty about global oil prices.

[mappress]
Press Release, August 21, 2014