The Port of Gothenburg handled 462,000 TEUs in the first half of 2026, broadly matching the record 463,000 TEUs recorded during the same period last year. However, the port reported a clear increase in the share of containers moving on direct services between Gothenburg and Asia.
Despite overall container throughput remaining stable, the volume of laden containers increased while empty-container movements declined. The growth was driven mainly by higher imports, while exports remained close to the previous year’s level.
Gothenburg is currently Sweden’s only port offering direct container services to and from Asia. Port officials said the direct connections are becoming increasingly attractive as congestion at European ports makes transshipment-based routes more vulnerable to delays and disruptions.
The port also recorded strong growth in rail-linked container traffic. 268,000 TEUs moved by rail during H1 2026, up 2% year on year, with more than 60% of the port’s containers transported by rail to or from inland destinations.
Other cargo segments also expanded. New vehicle handling rose 17% to 144,000 units, RoRo volumes increased 2% to 278,000 units, while energy-product volumes climbed 19% to 11 million tonnes.
The growing use of direct Asia services strengthens Gothenburg’s position as a key Scandinavian gateway for Asia-Europe container trade, offering shippers an alternative to routes involving additional European transshipment.