The Swedish seaport's January-September 2023 container rail traffic totalled 350k TEUs, a 9.1% year-on-year drop.

"The international container market paints a clear picture of the situation in a slowing economy. The fact that the Port of Gothenburg is growing in this context is almost unique. Like other ports, we are experiencing a reduced import demand, but here we see a continued high demand in the Swedish export industry that continues to deliver worldwide," explained Claes Sundmark, Vice President Sales and Marketing at the Gothenburg Port Authority.

He furthered, "One explanation [of the high-to-higher levels of containerised forest product exports] is the transfer to the Port of Gothenburg from other ports, but the Swedish forestry industry has also strengthened its position in the global market with more applications and increased demand, especially since the Russian forest is practically absent from the world market."

At the same time, the Port of Gothenburg handled 401k ro-ro cargo units (-5.9% yoy) and 191k new vehicles (+15.1% yoy).

Whereas less liquid bulk flew via the seaport's jetties (-14.6% yoy to 14 million tonnes), more dry and break-bulk was taken care of (+14.8% yoy to 326kt).

Gothenburg's passenger traffic advanced by 6.8% yoy to 1,235k ferry & cruise travellers.