Gothenburg RoRo volumes up 5% after three-year investment push

Cargo volumes over the quay at Gothenburg RoRo Terminal rose 5% in the first half of 2026 against the same period a year earlier, the clearest payoff yet from a three-year, nine-part infrastructure programme at Sweden's main RoRo gateway. The terminal handles food, forest products, steel, electronics and automotive and engineering components, with frequent sailings to freight hubs in the UK and Central Europe.

By Elena Vasquez

The growth lands at a moment when intra-European short sea shipping is gaining share. Geopolitical uncertainty, tariff disputes and global supply chain disruptions have pushed shippers toward regional, predictable transport options, and RoRo is increasingly used as relief for congested inland corridors.

What did the investment programme deliver?

The completed upgrades span nine areas, ranging from land expansion to berth works and clean fuels:

• 144,000 sqm of new terminal space in the outer port area, completed in 2024 — the largest expansion since the terminal opened in the late 1970s.
• Arken Intermodal Terminal, taken over in 2023, adding 65,000 sqm and seven rail tracks for direct trailer transfers between trains and vessels.
• An 11,000 sqm cross-docking facility for steel products, built in 2025.
• A 6,000 sqm covered cross-docking facility for forest products, completed in 2024.
• A widened and deepened approach channel during the 2022–2023 dredging season, allowing larger vessels and removing certain weather-related restrictions.
• An upgraded Berth 710 in 2026, with an extended quay projection and a new ramp to raise loading capacity for larger vessels.
• A green hydrogen refuelling station adjacent to the terminal, established in 2024 for hydrogen-powered trucks and terminal vehicles.

The dredging work has already changed deployment. CLdN and DFDS have both put larger, more modern vessels on routes serving the terminal. An upgrade of the eastern quay is next, to accommodate still larger tonnage.

Why does it matter for shippers and carriers?

For Swedish industry, the arithmetic is straightforward. A five percent volume gain in six months, on top of the biggest land expansion in nearly fifty years, means more capacity on lanes where shippers want regional alternatives to strained road networks. The Arken takeover adds a rail dimension, cutting handling steps for trailers moving between train and vessel.

For carriers, the deepened channel and rebuilt berths relax the vessel-size constraints that previously capped what could call at Gothenburg. The hydrogen station positions the terminal for trucking customers facing emissions requirements.

What do the operators say?

Jacob Minnhagen, Senior Market Development Manager at the Port of Gothenburg, said the terminal now has a genuine "2.0 feel" following the rapid pace of development.

Maria Franksen, CEO of Gothenburg RoRo Terminal, said the volume growth was a positive indication that the long-term, focused approach to developing capacity, quality and efficiency is paying off. She added that the operator remains committed to continued improvement to meet the current and future needs of Swedish industry.

The eastern quay upgrade is the next test of that commitment, and with intra-European demand still firming, the extra berth capacity looks likely to arrive against a rising volume backdrop.