Increase in cargo, trucks and trailers at the Port of Hirtshals
In 2021, more than two million tons of cargo and over 152,000 trucks and trailers passed through the Port of Hirtshals. These are the highest figures over the past three years and a positive development at a time when the number of cars, passengers and landings of fish have fallen due to the corona situation.
Cargo transport via the Port of Hirtshals is in continuous progress. In 2021, a total of 2.02 million tons of goods were transported across the quay in Hirtshals. That is an increase of 7.45 percent compared to 2020, when the figure was 1.88 million tons of goods.
The number of trucks and trailers has also increased in 2021, with a total of 152,000 units passing through the Port of Hirtshals. In 2020, the number was 143,000, which is an increase of just over six percent.
The trucks are well underway to drive off the ferry
The number of cars and passengers in 2021 is exactly as expected - and in line with 2020 - more than halved compared to 2019 and before the corona pandemic fundamentally changed travel patterns around the world. In 2021, a total of 307,000 cars passed through the Port of Hirtshals, which is a decrease of just over 12 percent compared to 2020 and almost 54 percent compared to 2019.
- We expect cars and passengers to steadily return to a normal level as travel restrictions are phased out both in Denmark and in our neighboring countries, says Per Holm Nørgaard.
Color Line Superspeed 2 in the process of turning
The increase in cargo traffic has occurred partly at the expense of the number of passengers, which for the second year in a row has been clearly affected by travel restrictions due to the corona situation.
- It is of course positive that the total amount of cargo at the Port of Hirtshals has increased and is the highest in three years. With significantly fewer passengers, there has been more space to transport cargo through the port. On the other hand, the increased volume of cargo has also proven that there is an increasing demand for cargo traffic through Hirtshals and thus also a solid basis for future growth, says CEO of the Port of Hirtshals Per Holm Nørgaard.
The total value of fish landings at the Port of Hirtshals has also decrease from 2020 to 2021, when fish were landed for a total of DKK 226.6 million. This is a decrease of almost 36 percent compared to 2020, when the total landings were worth 352.7 million kroner.
- Fish is still a very important part of the activities at the Port of Hirtshals, which is underlined by the large investment in a new biorefinery at the port. Together with investments in green energy, not least under the auspices of Greenport North, and in both climate and economically reasonable investments in transport solutions, the Port of Hirtshals is ready to seriously embark on the expansion of the port during 2022, says Per Holm Nørgaard.
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