Volumes and freight flow in the Port of Gothenburg
With its substantial export industry and long coastline, Sweden is totally dependent on an efficient shipping industry. Sea transport is used for 90 per cent of the country's imports and exports. Around a third of foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg.
Exports via the Port of Gothenburg include cars, paper, steel, wood products and food. Imports include virtually everything we consume – clothes, food, cars, electronics and a great deal besides. The fact is that every day every Swedish person touch something that has passed through the Port of Gothenburg.
As such a large proportion of foreign trade passes through our port, we are frequently used as a barometer to gauge the state of the economy. Shifts in the economy are reflected clearly in the flow of goods.
Volumes 2012
Three distinct patterns
Three distinct trade patterns emerged at the Port of Gothenburg during 2012: a rise in trade with other continents coupled with a fall in European trade; an increase in exports and a decrease in imports; growth in freight volumes from the Swedish east coast passing through the Port of Gothenburg. The volume trends can be seen in the table below.
| |
Change in per cent, 2012 |
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
| Container* (TEU) |
1% |
900 000 |
887 000 |
880 000 |
| Railway (TEU) |
10% |
411 000 |
374 000 |
369 000 |
| Ro/ro-units |
-4% |
534 000 |
549 000 |
564 000 |
| Cars |
-31% |
163 000 |
227 000 |
222 000 |
| Passengers |
-1% |
1 674 000 |
1 699 000 |
1 739 000 |
| Oil, Mtonnes |
9% |
22 |
20,4 |
22,8 |
| Cruise calls |
33% |
69 |
52 |
41 |
| Total, Mtonnes |
1% |
42 |
41,3 |
44,3 |
*One TEU is equivalent to a 20-foot container
Even balance between imports and exports
A major advantage for the shipping companies that use the Port of Gothenburg is the even balance between imports and exports. After unloading, there are goods available to be loaded and the number of empty load units on the vessel can be kept to a minimum.
Division between imports and exports during 2011:
Container:
Ro/ro-units:
Cars:
Passenger:
Container, passengers, cars and trailers - read more about the goods flow to and from the Port of Gothenburg.
Last changed 01/22/2013