Original news was published 27 January, 2018

Ports of Stockholm Ltd (SHAB) has reported record freight volumes in 2017.

The Stockholm region is growing, and increased freight volumes are passing through Ports of Stockholm, said the company. In summary, 2017 was a record year for both RoRo and container freight.

In total 9.6 Mt were handled by SHAB facilities last year, which a record high and a 7% increase compared to 2016. “The major freight segments of ro-ro and containers reached record levels in 2017, which tangibly demonstrates that the Stockholm region is red hot,” states Johan Castwall, SHAB's Managing Director.

The Finnish economy is also strong, which means that increasing amounts of cargo are being transported between Sweden and Finland. Freight transported to and from the Baltic States and Poland is also on the up. In total, a record amount of 6.85 Mt of ro-ro freight was handled by the ports during 2017.

The flow of containers between Sweden and different continents, primarily Asia, is also increasing. The number of containers handled increased by 11% y-on-y, reaching a record 60,000 TEU. “It is gratifying to see more cargo being transported in the most sustainable way, by sea, directly to and from the growing Stockholm region.

"It is particularly pleasing to see a continuous increase in freight volumes as we approach the inauguration of the new freight port, the Stockholm Norvik Port, in 2020,” said Stefan Hansson, Chair of the Board at SHAB.

SHAB has made major port investments in the Port of Kapellskär and the Värtahamnen port and is now building the Stockholm Norvik Port, which is anticipated to open in May 2020. The new major freight port will be able to accommodate large ro-ro and container vessels.

*NEWS SOURCE