Gothenburg box shop tops record with 3pc rise to 485,000 TEU in first half

SWEDEN's Port of Gothenburg increased its total throughput for the first six months of the year to 485,000 TEU reaching a record high due to increasing Swedish export demand which by containers increased three per cent.

The number of containers carried by Railport Scandinavia increased 14.4 per cent on its shuttle trains, reported Gydnia's Baltic Transport Journal. Passenger traffic declined by 5.2 per cent to 653,000 seats in 88,000 railcars.

Imports during this six month period dropped six per cent. Imports mainly take the form of consumer goods such as clothes, furniture, electronics and foodstuffs, said a statement from the port authority.

"A weak rate of growth in the European economy has impacted negatively on volumes. This was particularly noticeable in the downturn in paper exports," said its CEO Magnus Koerestedt.