Press release -
European trade up – global container traffic down
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
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 TEU 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 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.
For further information, contact Cecilia Carlsson, Corporate Communications Manager, Port of Gothenburg, phone +46 31 368 75 45.
The enclosed Word version of this press release contains a table showing the trend
for each type of freight.
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Fact file: Port of Gothenburg
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic region with 11,000 visits by vessels each year. 30 per cent of Swedish foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg as well as 60 per cent of all container traffic.
The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest container vessels and has the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 25 rail shuttles that depart each day mean that companies throughout Sweden and Norway have a direct, environmentally smart link to the largest port in the Nordic region. The Port of Gothenburg has terminals for oil, cars, ro-ro, containers and passengers.
