In 2023, more containers were handled at the Port of Gothenburg than ever before. As the first half of 2024 is summarized, the figures indicate that the port is currently on track for yet another all-time high year for container volumes. At the same time, other segments show signs of an unstable economic climate.

The first half of the year saw a 5% increase in container volumes, reaching 467,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units). Notably, the upward trend in import volumes observed during the first quarter continues.

“The signals we received from the market earlier this year regarding increased purchasing power and demand have proven to be accurate. Export volumes are also continuing to rise, partly due to the Swedish forest industry expanding its exports via the Port of Gothenburg,” says Claes Sundmark, Vice President of Sales at the Port of Gothenburg.

The second quarter of 2024 marks the 15th consecutive quarter of growth in the port’s total container volumes, representing a steady increase since the third quarter of 2020.

The number of containers transported to and from the port by rail has surged, with a growth of 6% over the first half of the year. This is attributed to a combination of growing volumes at existing destinations across the country, along with the addition of several new destinations to the port’s rail network.

RoRo units and vehicles

RoRo stands for roll-on/roll-off, referring to trailers and other rolling cargo transported by ship. The Port of Gothenburg’s intra-European RoRo traffic connects to key transport hubs in Northern and Central Europe with high-frequency departures. The intra-European RoRo traffic decreased by 4% to 270,000 handled RoRo units during the first half of the year.

“This slowdown is linked to the continued uncertainty in the European economy. But relatively speaking, we have strong numbers in Gothenburg. If we look at comparable traffic in other ports, the decline is bigger,” says Claes Sundmark.

The handling of new vehicles at the port decreased by 3% to 132,000 cars during the first half of the year. The decline is mainly due to a decrease in car imports to Sweden, which can be explained by the 6% drop in new car registrations in Sweden during the period, according to statistics from Mobility Sweden.

Energy products and other segments
The handling of energy products at the port increased by 13% to 11 million tons compared to the same period in 2023. At that time, volumes were relatively low due to planned stops for maintenance and investments in increased capacity for biofuel production.

The Port of Gothenburg received 26 cruise ship calls during the first half of the year, compared to 33 during the same period last year. The decline is due to planned work around one of the port’s cruise terminals in Arendal, which was temporarily closed. In the ferry segment, the number of passengers increased by 3% to 652,000.

The handling of conventional dry bulk ships continues to rise. During the first half of the year, 270,000 tons of dry bulk were handled, an increase of 31%. This increase is driven by new export flows of forest products, granulate, and building materials for major infrastructure projects.

Port of Gothenburg cargo volumes for the first half of 2024