Fall in container and energy volumes
During the first quarter of 2014, European ro-ro traffic and the handling of new cars increased at the Port of Gothenburg. The oil and container segments continue to fall.
The positive trend for European ro-ro traffic is continuing at the Port of Gothenburg. The upturn began in 2013 when ro-ro volumes rose for the first time in three years. During the first quarter of 2014, 142,000 units were shipped via the Port of Gothenburg – an increase of seven per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2013.
According to Magnus Kårestedt, CEO Port of Gothenburg, the pattern for ro-ro traffic is a continuation of the pattern that has emerged during the past year. “The UK is increasing slowly, Belgium is showing a substantial increase and Germany and Denmark continue to be stable.“
Handling of new cars at the Port of Gothenburg also rose during the first few months of the year. 17,200 units were shipped, up 16 per cent on 2013. Rail volumes also increased (two per cent) during the first quarter, despite the fact that volumes for containers handled at the quayside have fallen. The total number of containers handled fell by seven per cent, from 232,000 TEU during the first quarter of 2013 to 216,000 TEU during the first quarter of 2014.
“A weakened Swedish container market in general, combined with a couple of services that have disappeared, has resulted in a downturn in container volumes,” Magnus Kårestedt says.
Volumes in the energy segment are down 20 per cent on the first quarter of 2013.
Magnus Kårestedt continues: “The storage market is under considerable pressure at the moment. Refining margins are also low. Throughflow at the refineries was significantly higher during the first quarter of 2013. Consequently, volumes during that period were higher in the light of the positive margins at the time.“
Source and Image Credit: Port of Gothenburg