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SWEDEN’s main 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 per cent 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 per cent increase during the first quarter compared to the same period in 2023.
While imports are growing, exports continued on the trajectory from 2023 with continued increased volume as well. During the first quarter of 2024, exported containers increase by four per cent compared to the same period last year.
In total – combining exports and imports – the port’s container volumes increased by eight per cent to a total of 242,000 TEU, which is the highest figure for a single quarter in the port’s history
‘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 and marketing at the Gothenburg Port Authority.
The Port of Gothenburg handles 57 per cent of Sweden’s total container volume, with terminal operator APM Terminals handling the majority of the volumes.
During the first quarter, the amount of container goods transported by rail increased one per cent to 126,000 TEU. The growth included forest products transported by rail, containerised in Gothenburg, the home of IKEA. Railway routes to import-heavy destinations in the Swedish hinterland also showed strong growth, the port said.
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