"The range of cruises in the Baltic Sea has decreased after first the pandemic and then the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Specifically, the cruises targeting an international audience have disappeared", says Communications Director Niclas Härenstam on the authority's website.
In total, 20.5 million passengers traveled on vessels calling at Swedish ports in 2024. This is a decrease of three percent compared to 2023. It can also be compared to 27 million travelers in 2019, before the pandemic.
Last year, the decreases mainly occurred in Strömstad, Helsingborg, Kapellskär, and Gothenburg, and according to the Swedish Maritime Administration, this is due to a lower supply of ferry traffic.
Over a five-year period, the decline is largest in the Stockholm harbors with traffic across the Baltic Sea.
In total, there were 67,100 calls by vessels at Swedish ports last year, which is a decrease of nearly four percent compared to the previous year. Except for the pandemic year 2020, it is the lowest figure in five years.
However, despite fewer calls, the vessels are more fully loaded when it comes to goods. The volumes are stable with an increase of two percent in 2024 to approximately 155 million tons.
