Gothenburg's volumes improve slowly

The port of Gothenburg’s volumes suffered a double-digit decline in 2009, although they did improve as the year progressed.

In total, the port handled 818,000teu last year, which was 5% down on 2008.

However, by the six-month mark, the Swedish port’s container volumes were 10% down year-on-year.

Magnus Kårestedt, port of Gothenburg CEO, said: "We noted an improvement during the second half of the year.

"It was not a major upturn, merely a hint of an increase. Although volumes fell overall we have fared well compared with many competing ports."

The port said its ro-ro volumes also improved as the year progressed, but the 504,000 units handled by in 2009, were still down 19% on the year before.

Foreign trade in vehicles was the freight category that suffered the most. In 2009, just over 157,000 vehicles were handled, 42% down on the year before. During the first half of the year, volumes were 58% down year-on-year.

Kårestedt said: "As over one-quarter of Sweden’s foreign trade passes through the port of Gothenburg, we can see changes in the economy at an early stage, and naturally we have been affected by the setbacks in the automotive industry.

"It is heartening for everyone that things are looking a little brighter," he added.