Despite the current global and domestic economic recession, the Port of Gothenburg maintains strong volumes throughout most cargo divisions. The cargo volume report for the first half of 2023 from the Port of Gothenburg demonstrates this.
The Port of Gothenburg handles more than half of Sweden’s container transports, with the majority passing via APM Terminals’ container terminal. Despite the recent half-year economic slump with higher interest rates and inflation, the number of containers handled at the port has climbed.
During the first half of 2023, the port handled 446,000 TEUs, showing a 3% increase over the same time the previous year.
In addition, rail carries around 60% of the containers transported to and from the port’s inland destinations, an amount achieved by few other large international ports. However, maintenance work on Sweden’s railway infrastructure during the first half of the year, as well as limited options for additional trains, have had a negative impact on volumes.
These factors, along with lower import levels, resulted in a 9% decline in the first half of 2023. This compares to the same period in 2022, which was a record year for rail-borne containers at Gothenburg’s Port.
Port of Gothenburg Throughput, First Half of 2023
| Jan-June 2023 | Jan-June 2022 | % | |
| Containers, TEU | 446,000 | 433,000 | 3% |
| Rail, TEU | 234,000 | 257,000 | -9% |
| Ro/ro units | 277,000 | 295,000 | -6% |
| New vehicles | 137,000 | 122,000 | 12% |
| Passengers | 636,000 | 538,000 | 18% |
| Cruise calls | 33 | 25 | 32% |
| Energy (million tonnes) | 9 | 11 | -12% |
| Dry bulk (tonnes) | 199,000 | 189,000 | 5% |
