The Port of Gothenburg, the largest port in the Nordic region, is a reflection of Swedish industry. Whilst the first half of 2008 showed an increase for a number of goods categories, volumes fell during the second half of the year. Despite the downturn, new volume records were set for containers, oil and rail.
This week marked the premiere for trailer trains to the Port of Gothenburg, resulting in major environmental benefits. The first trains to leave ran between the Port of Gothenburg and thress other locations in Sweden - Vännäs, Helsingborg and Eskilstuna.
In November, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics will start a new shipping route between Gothenburg and Australia. The company will mainly carry cars, trucks and construction machines.
The world's third largest container shipping company - CMA CGM - is the latest company to choose the Port of Gothenburg. In November a new route will be opened, linking the Port of Gothenburg with the Far East.
Honda has chosen the Port of Gothenburg as its new port of entry. All Honda Civics and Honda CR-Vs for the Swedish and Danish markets will now be brought in via Gothenburg, totalling 8,000 vehicles each year.
A new freight line has been opened up between St Petersburg and the Port of Gothenburg. The Singapore headquartered shipping line X-Press Container Line has commenced operating a loop from Russia to Scandinavia, down to the continent and back to Russia.
The Port of Göteborg has been granted an environmental permit by the local authorities for the transit handling and storage of Russian crude oil in an underground cavern close to the port and the crude oil jettys. Operations are expected to commence at the end of next year.
The volume of goods transported by rail to and from the Port of Göteborg has increased steadily in recent years. The port has now gone one step further in its rail investment by launching RailPort Scandinavia. The aim is to link the shuttle locations more closely to the port. First in line is Vaggeryd, a small town in southern Sweden.
If all the vessels in the world shut down their engines when moored and instead used a shoreside electric power supply – also known as 'cold ironing' – emissions from shipping would fall substantially. The Port of Göteborg is one of the world leaders when it comes to shoreside electric power connection. The Port will now draft part of an international climate declaration.
42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That was the quantity of emissions saved last year by goods arriving at the Port of Göteborg by rail instead of by road. The volume of goods carried by rail to the Port of Göteborg has risen sharply in recent years.