SIMIC

LADEN container volume at the Port of Gothenburg continued to grow in the first quarter, but the numbers of empties decreased, representing an overall three per cent year-on-year box volume decline, according to a press release from the port authority.

Container flows by rail continued to rise and have reached an all-time high. The decline was due to fewer empty containers being handled, while the handling of laden containers increased slightly compared to the same period last year.



"Reduced repositioning of empty containers improves efficiency in cargo flows. The underlying factor is the port's strong balance between imports and exports, which is now close to 50-50," said the port's sales and marketing chief Claes Sundmark.



The vast majority of the container volumes passing through the Port of Gothenburg are handled by APM Terminals, which operates the port's container terminal.



Another positive highlight in the first quarter was the number of containers transported to or from the port by rail, which increased by six per cent during the period. A total of 134,000 containers moved in or out of the port by rail, setting a new record for a first quarter at the port.



"This is a testament to the excellent performance of our Railport Scandinavia network, and it also reflects the Swedish industry's combined efforts to both streamline flows and reduce transport emissions by shifting freight from road to rail," Mr Sundmark said.



A total of 137,000 ro-ro units were handled in the first quarter, representing a slight decline of just under one per cent. However, volumes at the port's largest ro-ro terminal increased during the period.



During the same quarter, 62,000 cars were handled, a decrease of 11 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2024. This was despite an increase in the handling of vehicles to and from destinations outside Europe, particularly the United States.



"It is reasonable to assume this is due to the uncertain tariff situation. The focus has been on shipping as many cars across the Atlantic as possible, which is also why shipments to and from Europe decreased during the period," Mr Sundmark said.