P&O almost doubles freight volumes to Sweden

UK owner P&O Ferries has posted a 92% year-on-year increase in freight carried to Gothenburg in Sweden.

The rise has come about due to a partnership with Swedish Orient Line (SOL) last year that means continental exporters can ship cargoes from Gothenburg to Zeebrugge and then on to Tilbury and Teesport in the UK.

Between July and September, volumes reached 1,541 units.

Henrik Pedersen, director of sales at P&O Ferries, said: "These numbers demonstrate that there is significant and growing appetite among continental exporters for a reliable service which takes goods from the largest port in Scandinavia to within touching distance of the principal markets of England and Scotland.

“We expect more interest in this ground-breaking service in the year ahead as projections show the British economy continuing to grow faster than the rest of the EU."

In July, P&O Ferries announced that it is doubling freight capacity at Zeebrugge in order to meet increased structural demand from exporters to Britain.