Car exports and imports passing through the Port of Gothenburg rose by 15% compared with the same period last year to 56,000 units during the third quarter this year. Container, ro-ro and energy volumes also increased, the Port Authority said in a press release.
The Port of Gothenburg is the largest vehicle export outlet in Sweden. There are also significant car imports, including brands such as Mazda, Nissan and Renault. The handling of new cars is on the increase generally, both outbound and inbound.
Between July and September, 56,000 cars passed through the port – a rise of 15 per cent on the same period in 2015.
Small changes in container traffic
Some 207,000 containers passed through the port between July and September, a quarter-on-quarter rise of two per cent, although the January-September figure is still down one per cent on 2015.
More trailers and trucks
Ro-ro traffic, which makes use of trailers and trucks, has also grown. From July to September, 132,000 ro-ro units were loaded and unloaded at the port’s freight terminals, up five per cent on the same period last year.
Off-year for cruise traffic
The 2016 cruise season has been weaker than in previous years, both in passenger terms and in the number of calls. A total of 36 cruise ships carrying 60,000 passengers visited Gothenburg this year. But the downturn has proved short-lived – 43 cruise ships are already scheduled for next year.
The number of passengers on ferries to and from Germany and Denmark remains unchanged compared with the previous year.
Boost in energy products
Half of Sweden’s crude oil imports pass through Gothenburg. The Energy Port handles a range of commodities, including petrol, diesel, asphalt and renewable energy products. The volume of oil and energy products rose by 12 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2015, and by 14 per cent for January-September. The sharp increase in volumes can be attributed largely to a rise in storage and regional distribution.