The Port of Gothenburg handled 462,000 TEUs during the first half of 2026, maintaining container throughput close to record levels.
The result was broadly in line with the 463,000 TEUs handled during the corresponding period of 2025, the port’s strongest year by volume.
The number of laden containers increased, while empty container movements declined. Therefore, actual cargo volumes rose even though total container throughput remained stable.
Higher import volumes drove the increase, while exports remained close to the previous year’s level.
Direct Asia services gain larger share
The proportion of containers moving through the port’s direct services to and from Asia increased during the first six months of 2026.
“The Port of Gothenburg is the only port in Sweden to offer direct services for containerised cargo to and from Asia,” said Claes Sundmark, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Port of Gothenburg.
“For Swedish importers and exporters, direct services mean efficient, sustainable and reliable transport with fewer disruption-prone stages,” he added.
“Given the current congestion at many ports across Europe, the advantages of direct services without transshipment are becoming even clearer,” Sundmark continued.
Rail volumes rise by 2%
More than 60% of the containers handled at the Port of Gothenburg move by rail between the port and inland destinations.
Rail volumes increased by 2% to 268,000 TEUs during the first half of 2026, compared with 262,000 TEUs one year earlier.
The port said the result placed its rail traffic on course for another record year.
Vehicle traffic increases by 17%
The Port of Gothenburg handled 144,000 new vehicles during the period, representing an increase of 17% from 124,000 units.
The growth covered services within and outside Europe. Exports accounted for approximately three-quarters of the vehicles handled.
Intra-European RoRo traffic increased by 2% to 278,000 units from 272,000 units.
Strong growth in services connecting Gothenburg with Central Europe supported the increase.
Energy volumes reach 11 million tonnes
Energy product volumes increased by 19% to 11 million tonnes, with both imports and exports recording growth.
The port noted that the comparison period in 2025 was weaker than usual because of scheduled maintenance shutdowns in production.
Dry bulk volumes rose by 7% to 165,000 tonnes. Forest products, including paperboard and pulp, drove the increase.
Cruise calls increased by 5% to 20, while passenger numbers rose by 1% to 585,000.
Port of Gothenburg first-half throughput
