Premiere for new service to Asia

A new direct service between Sweden and Asia is due to commence tomorrow, operated by the G6 Alliance. Ships will call at APM Terminals, the container terminal at the Port of Gothenburg, once a week.

Up to now, Sweden has had just one direct container service to the Far East – the weekly service operated from Gothenburg by MSC and Maersk Line. Tomorrow a second service will be added. The international G6 Alliance has invested heavily in a direct freight service between Sweden and Asia.

"A wide range of services is crucial for Swedish industry and that is why it is very encouraging indeed that the G6 Alliance believes in the Swedish market and in the Port of Gothenburg as a freight hub. Direct services mean rapid, safe transport with excellent reliability," said Claes Sundmark, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at the Port of Gothenburg.

The new service is definitely in keeping with the times. APM Terminals is well prepared following a series of new investments and an upgraded terminal, making it possible to receive ships and volumes of this size.

"With what is virtually a new terminal, new cranes, new straddle carriers and upgraded land areas we have the capacity to handle vessels of this size rapidly and efficiently. We hope to secure increased volumes from both Sweden and Norway and more customers of this size," said Patrik Thulin, CCO at APM Terminals in Gothenburg.

Service operated by six shipping companies
The G6 Alliance comprises the Singapore-based company APL, the Korean company Hyundai, the Japanese companies MOL and NYK, the German company Hapag Lloyd and the Hong Kong-based company OOCL. The last time the G6 Alliance operated out of Gothenburg was in 2012.

"We have noted an increase in trade between Scandinavian and China, in particular exports to China. That is why we are returning to Gothenburg with the largest and most modern ships in our fleet," said Fredrik Håkansson Säll, General Manager at Hyundai Merchant Marine.

Weekly sailing to China
The first ship bound for the Far East will leave Gothenburg on August 28, carrying mainly forest products, steel and machinery. The service will then call at APM Terminals in Gothenburg once a week. Imports will include clothing, electronics, foodstuffs, white goods and industrial components. The ships used in this rotation can carry around 14,000 containers*.

The rotation covers the following ports: Qingdao (China) – Shanghai (China) – Hong Kong (China) – Yantian (China) – Singapore (Singapore) – Rotterdam (Netherlands) – Hamburg (Germany) – Gdansk (Poland) – Gothenburg (Sweden) – Antwerp (Belgium) – Southampton (United Kingdom) – Singapore (Singapore) – Yantian (China) – Qingdao (China).

* 20-foot containers, TEU.

Fact file – trade between Sweden and ChinaChina is Sweden's biggest trading partner in Asia. In terms of containerised goods, China is by far the largest destination.

In 2013, exports from Sweden to China totalled SEK 39.5 billion. This is equivalent to 3.6 per cent of the country's total exports, making China Sweden's tenth-largest export market. Exports include automotive components, sawn timber products, industrial components, steel and paper.

Imports from China to Sweden largely comprise consumer goods, including clothing, electronics and furniture. In 2013, imports totalled SEK 53.4 billion, equivalent to 5.1 per cent of Sweden's total imports.

For more information, please contact:

Cecilia Carlsson, Vice President Communications, Port of Gothenburg
+46 31 368 45 75
cecilia.carlsson@portgot.se

Patrik Thulin, CCO, APM Terminals Gothenburg
+46 10-122 26 22
patrik.thulin@apmterminals.com