"The closest port isn’t always the best port"

Why Eskilstuna Logistik chooses the Port of Gothenburg

Location, location, location. It’s the key factor when companies decide where to establish themselves, and Eskilstuna has a prime location. With over four million consumers within an hour’s reach and a strong industrial presence in Mälardalen and Bergslagen, the city is a logistics hub.

But when it comes to exports and imports, it’s not always about the closest port. It’s about the smartest solution. For Eskilstuna Logistik, the Port of Gothenburg is the obvious choice.

– When businesses want to establish themselves, it comes down to three things: location, location, location. And we have a fantastic location with over four million consumers within an hour’s reach, which brings a significant inflow of products. Given our proximity to industrial companies in Mälardalen and Bergslagen, we also have strong export customers shipping goods in the opposite direction, says Pär Svensson, Logistics Developer at Eskilstuna Logistik och Etablering AB.

Gothenburg - the natural choice for Eskilstuna

Eskilstuna has grown into a logistics hub, largely thanks to direct rail connections to the Port of Gothenburg. The decision to focus on Gothenburg was made early, when H&M established its presence in the city.

– It all started when H&M wanted to set up here and said a direct connection to Gothenburg was needed. That’s when we made the decision: Gothenburg would be our focus. That’s where the largest freight flows are, and it’s the biggest port in the Nordics.

The collaboration between Eskilstuna Logistik and the Port of Gothenburg has strengthened over the years and is expected to grow even further.

– There’s an exciting development ahead. When Stena moves its RoPax traffic, volumes will increase even more, making Gothenburg an even more attractive option for rail and intermodal transport.

He is convinced that the region’s strong growth will lead to higher volumes on the two existing rail connections to Gothenburg—and possibly even more.

– If I could wish for anything from the Port of Gothenburg, it would be for them to fully realize how strong they are in Ro/Ro as well, and how their position will grow even further within RoPax. After all, there is much more than just containers being transported. The Port of Gothenburg should communicate that even more clearly and powerfully.

Reliable and sustainable transport every step of the way

For Eskilstuna Logistik, rail transport is key to both efficiency and sustainability. Many customers are looking for fossil-free transport solutions—and that option is already available today.

– From the Port of Gothenburg, it’s electric all the way here, and we have every opportunity to deliver exactly what the customer needs, even for last-mile delivery. Right now, fossil-free last-mile transport is slightly more expensive, but that will level out.

Rail punctuality is also a critical factor for companies relying on precise deliveries.

– Reliability is high. Of course, maintenance and other factors come into play, but we receive early notifications and can adjust, for example, by rerouting traffic. Additionally, we have redundancy—trains can take different routes to and from Eskilstuna. That’s something we make sure our customers understand. Simply put, there is capacity on the tracks, and the goods arrive as planned.

The closest port isn't always the best port

That so many trains from Eskilstuna head west rather than to ports on the east coast is no coincidence.

– The closest port isn’t always the best port. It’s about understanding how freight flows work, and that’s where Gothenburg has a major advantage.

What would be the best development moving forward?

– The best thing that could happen is more direct calls to Gothenburg. That would increase rail volumes, and we have a region that is ready to both receive and send out even more cargo.