Published 04/23/2013
During the first quarter of the year, 5.5 million tonnes of crude oil and other energy products were handled at the Port of Gothenburg. This is an increase of five per cent on the previous year. In total, 10.4 million tonnes of freight were imported or exported through the port during the period – the same level as last year.
Gothenburg has the largest energy port in Scandinavia and this is where half of Sweden's crude oil imports enter the country – oil that is subsequently refined at the port into petrol, diesel, asphalt and other products. During the first quarter of the year, volumes at the Energy Port increased by five per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2012.
"The increase can be attributed mainly to the refineries near the port taking in large volumes of crude oil from the North Sea during the first few months of the year, but also to an increase in diesel exports," says Magnus Kårestedt, Port of Gothenburg Chief Executive.
In total, 5.5 million tonnes of oil and other products were handled at the Port of Gothenburg during the period. This is approximately half the total port volume of 10.4 million tonnes – exactly the same level as Q1 2012.
Stable global trade
The most common way of transporting global commercial goods is by shipping them in containers. Around 60 per cent of Sweden's import and export containers pass through the Port of Gothenburg.
The number of containers shipped fell by two per cent compared to the first quarter of 2012. However, this is not a sign of a further slowdown in the economy but can be explained largely by the fact that banana imports at the port have ceased.
"If the flow of bananas is taken out of the equation, we are more or less on the same level compared to the first quarter last year. Although the flow is stable we still cannot see any turnaround in the economy," says Magnus Kårestedt.
In total, 229,000 containers were shipped during the first quarter of 2013*.
Continued weak European flows
The Port of Gothenburg has frequent ro-ro services to the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Finland and Belgium. This sector fell by five per cent during the first quarter compared to the corresponding period last year.
"Even if this is a decrease on Q1 2012, the volumes are stronger now than during the autumn, states Magnus Kårestedt.
Cars are the freight area that fell most during the period – 24 per cent. The fall applies to both car movements within Europe and to other continents.
"Cars are the freight category at the port that fluctuates most over time. The decrease during the first quarter can probably be attributed to a range of factors, including a fall in the sale of new cars in Sweden and a fall in exports," concludes Magnus Kårestedt.
More passengers
Stena Line's ferries to Frederikshavn and Kiel leave daily from Gothenburg. During the period January-March, 258,000 people travelled on these ferries. The number of German visitors to Gothenburg increased by a healthy 23 per cent during the period. In total, the number of passengers rose by seven per cent compared to the first quarter last year.
* Calculated as 20-foot equivalent units (TEU).
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