Port of Gothenburg breaks container record

The Port of Gothenburg has achieved a new record in container volumes handled during the first quarter of 2024, building on the momentum of 2023, which marked a milestone year in container handling for the Swedish port.

In 2023, buoyed by robust export volumes, the Port of Gothenburg achieved its highest-ever container handling performance. However, the import side faced challenges, experiencing a notable decline of nearly 20% throughout the year. Factors such as elevated interest rates and a weakened Swedish krona dampened domestic consumer demand, contributing to the import downturn.

However, the landscape has shifted noticeably in 2024. Import volumes have rebounded, recording an 11% increase during the first quarter compared to the same period in 2023.

“Now we are back to import volumes at levels similar to those before the pandemic. And the signals we are receiving from the market indicate that major importers in sectors such as retail expect strengthened purchasing power and increased demand from Swedish consumers going forward,” said Claes Sundmark, Vice President Sales & Marketing at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

In addition, exports are continuing on the upward trajectory from 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, exported containers increased by 4% compared to the same period last year, data from the port shows. In total – combining exports and imports – the port’s container volumes increased by 8% to a total of 242,000 TEU, which is the highest figure for a single quarter in the port’s history.

The Port of Gothenburg handles 57% of Sweden’s total container volume, with terminal operator APM Terminals handling the majority of the volumes.

“A lot is happening right now that will further strengthen our railway offering in the future. We have new railway destinations starting up, while several existing routes are increasing in frequency. The upgrade of the Port Line to double track has just been completed, tripling the capacity of the railway. With the Port Line and our recently started fairway deepening, we are developing the port with even more robust and efficient infrastructure, sharpening the competitiveness of Swedish industry further,” added Sundmark.

More containers by rail

During the first quarter, the amount of container goods transported by rail increased by 1% to 126,000 TEU. The growth include forest products transported by rail, containerized in Gothenburg. Railway routes to import-heavy destinations in the Swedish hinterland also showed strong growth, the port said.

Growing energy volumes

During the first quarter, the handling of energy products through the port increased by 10%, to 5.1 million handled tons. This is compared to the same quarter in 2023, where volumes were relatively low due to planned maintenance shutdowns at refineries.

Slightly fewer vehicles and ro-ro units

The handling of new vehicles decreased by 2% to 69,000 cars during the first quarter. It was primarily the import of cars to Sweden that decreased, reflecting the decrease in the number of new car registrations in Sweden during the period. During the first quarter, the total intra-European ro-ro volume also decreased by 2%.

Dry bulk cargo

During the first quarter, 144,000 tons of dry bulk were handled, an increase of 30%. Behind the increase are, among other things, new export flows of forest products, granules, and building materials for major infrastructure projects.

Passengers

The number of passengers increased by 11% to 258,000. This is the highest number of passengers since 2018 for the corresponding period.