Increased freight volumes at the Port of Gothenburg

Freight volumes passing through the Port of Gothenburg during the first four months of this year (2010) have increased, suggesting the return of a stronger economy.

The greatest increase was in the car segment, the area hit the hardest during the recession, with a 40% increase. From January to April, 62,500 cars were handled compared with a figure of 157,000 for the whole of 2009.

During the same period, 296,000 teu were handled, a rise of almost 13% on the corresponding period in 2009, with throughput during March reaching an all-time high at 83,450 teu, 30% better than the previous year. At 178,000 units handled ro/ro traffic increased by 7%.

“The comparison figures are not record figures by any means but regardless of the state of the economy the volume of goods handled has risen once again and this is of course positive. The increase noted during the first four months of this year looks as if it will hold and the signs are this positive trend will be reflected in the mid-year financial results,” states Magnus Kårestedt, chief executive of the Port of Gothenburg Port Authority.

During the period, transit storage of crude oil commenced in one of the port’s underground caverns, which is now full. The oil will be stored until the beginning of next year when transfer to vessels will commence.

This is a new area in the oil sector, which is believed to be a contributing factor in the total of 7.5 million tonnes (+6% increase) in oil volumes handled.

Kårestedt is optimistic about the future of the port and although he warns that it is unlikely that it will attain the volumes prior to the recession, he states that there are clear signs that a recovery is under way.

The Port of Gothenburg handles one-quarter of Sweden’s foreign trade.
(Source:www.container-mag.com)