Michele Majidi
Researcher
Maritime ports in Sweden - statistics & facts
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The ports in Sweden have always been of great importance to the country's economy due to Sweden's location. Ports account for the biggest share of the total volume of all imports and exports to and from Sweden. In 2022, nearly 71,000 ships entered Swedish ports, the majority of which—some 52,000—were passenger vessels and ferries. Almost 25 million passengers passed through ports in Sweden in 2022, up from some 17 millions in 2021 and 14 million in 2020.
While the volume of goods handled at Swedish ports increased as well in 2022 compared with the previous year, this increase was less than noticeable. In 2022, around 146 million metric tons of seaborne cargo was loaded and unloaded in Sweden, whereas this volume amounted to some 145 million metric tons in 2021. Most of the cargo processed at Swedish ports in 2022—around 55 million metric tons—was liquid bulk, mainly crude petroleum and refined petroleum products.
The Port of Trelleborg, located near the southernmost point in Sweden at the Baltic Sea, serves as a significant connecting point to the Baltic countries. In 2022, over 13 million metric tons of cargo were processed at the port and around 1.6 million passengers embarked and disembarked there.
The Port of Helsingborg ranked second in terms of passenger numbers in 2022, handling over 6.3 million people. Most of these passengers were either coming from or going to Denmark. This corresponds with the bigger picture: roughly 64 percent of all passenger vessels arriving in Sweden and passenger ships leaving Swedish ports came from or were bound to Denmark in 2022.
While the volume of goods handled at Swedish ports increased as well in 2022 compared with the previous year, this increase was less than noticeable. In 2022, around 146 million metric tons of seaborne cargo was loaded and unloaded in Sweden, whereas this volume amounted to some 145 million metric tons in 2021. Most of the cargo processed at Swedish ports in 2022—around 55 million metric tons—was liquid bulk, mainly crude petroleum and refined petroleum products.
Port of Gothenburg handling 23 percent of all seaborne cargo
The largest port in Sweden, as well as in the Nordic countries, is the Port of Gothenburg. Located at the North Sea, the port is an important hub for seaborne trade between Sweden and the rest of the world. In 2022, almost 40 million metric tons of seaborne freight were handled at the Port of Gothenburg. The port was thus responsible for handling over 23 percent of all seaborne cargo that was loaded and unloaded in the whole of Sweden.The Port of Trelleborg, located near the southernmost point in Sweden at the Baltic Sea, serves as a significant connecting point to the Baltic countries. In 2022, over 13 million metric tons of cargo were processed at the port and around 1.6 million passengers embarked and disembarked there.
Port of Stockholm as a popular passenger port
The most popular passenger port in Sweden, however, is the Port of Stockholm. With a total of some 25 million passengers passing through Swedish ports in 2022, some 31 percent of them—about 7.8 million people—passed through the Port of Stockholm.The Port of Helsingborg ranked second in terms of passenger numbers in 2022, handling over 6.3 million people. Most of these passengers were either coming from or going to Denmark. This corresponds with the bigger picture: roughly 64 percent of all passenger vessels arriving in Sweden and passenger ships leaving Swedish ports came from or were bound to Denmark in 2022.
