Yet again the Port of Hirtshals is Denmark's No. 1 in fish
With a total value of DKK 1.46 billion, the Port of Hirtshals is back in the top in the fishing sector among the Danish ports. In 2019, the Port of Hirtshals has experienced a significant development in the handling and distribution of fish that primarily has been borne by Hav Line's establishment of the largest salmon terminal in the world and the commissioning of the harvesting vessel "Norwegian Gannet".
In many ways the salmon has marked the year 2019 at the Port of Hirtshals - both because of the inflow of fresh salmon from Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Scotland, and because the port has the largest concentration of salmon processing companies in Denmark. 2019 has thus been the year in which the Port of Hirtshals has seriously manifested its position as Denmark's turntable for the handling and distribution of salmon. This position is a result of the combination of the port's unique location in the heart of Scandinavia and a longstanding tradition and competence in fish.
- The activities at the Port of Hirtshals have developed in a positive direction, if we look at 2019 in an overall perspective. Of course, it is particularly clear that we again have a leading position in the Danish fishing sector, says chairman at the Port of Hirtshals, Anker Laden-Andersen.
In many ways the salmon has marked the year 2019 at the Port of Hirtshals - both because of the inflow of fresh salmon from Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Scotland, and because the port has the largest concentration of salmon processing companies in Denmark. 2019 has thus been the year in which the Port of Hirtshals has seriously manifested its position as Denmark's turntable for the handling and distribution of salmon. This position is a result of the combination of the port's unique location in the heart of Scandinavia and a longstanding tradition and competence in fish.
- The activities at the Port of Hirtshals have developed in a positive direction, if we look at 2019 in an overall perspective. Of course, it is particularly clear that we again have a leading position in the Danish fishing sector, says chairman at the Port of Hirtshals, Anker Laden-Andersen.
For the Port of Hirtshals, 2019 has not only been characterised by growth in fish - also in the car and passenger traffic there has been a positive development. In 2019, there was a total traffic of 2.42m passengers, which is an increase of 2.4% compared to 2018. Similarly, the number of passenger cars has shown a growth of 3.3% to 760,000 cars. In 2019, the Port of Hirtshals has thus had the third largest number of passengers since 2001, and the largest number of passenger cars ever.
The total cargo traffic over the port in 2019 totalled DKK 1.8m tonnes, which is a slight stagnation compared to the cargo traffic in 2018 with a total of DKK 1.9m tonnes. The observed decline in the cargo volume amounts to 2.5% which, however, should be compared to an estimated fall in cargo traffic over the Danish ports in the region of 2.8% from 2018 to 2019. Compared to the cargo traffic in general, the Port of Hirtshals considers the development as positive, as the port thus maintains a positive development.
The cargo traffic in Europe has generally shown a decline over the past year. The minor European recession has affected the traffic over a large number of European traffic ports, and thus also the Port of Hirtshals, through which a significant amount of cargo traffic passes between Norway and the European continent. In line with the total cargo transport over the Port of Hirtshals, the lorry traffic has suffered a stagnation as well, which however must be regarded as temporary.
- In a single business area, we have to some extent been influenced by external factors related to the minor European recession and in particular to Brexit. It is therefore conditions that we have no control over which have caused us a stagnation. This only reinforces our grounds for continuing to develop the Port of Hirtshals as a North European logistics centre, as we become less sensitive to external factors with a wider palette, the chairman concludes.
In mid-January 2020, Smyril Line opened a new ro/ro route between Hirtshals, Torshavn in the Faroe Islands and Torlakshöfn south of Reykjavik in Iceland. Smyril Line's choice to expand traffic from the Port of Hirtshals confirms the port's position as hub of the North Atlantic cargo transport, as well as Smyril Line's position as a key player in the North Atlantic cargo market is strengthened.
The total cargo traffic over the port in 2019 totalled DKK 1.8m tonnes, which is a slight stagnation compared to the cargo traffic in 2018 with a total of DKK 1.9m tonnes. The observed decline in the cargo volume amounts to 2.5% which, however, should be compared to an estimated fall in cargo traffic over the Danish ports in the region of 2.8% from 2018 to 2019. Compared to the cargo traffic in general, the Port of Hirtshals considers the development as positive, as the port thus maintains a positive development.
The cargo traffic in Europe has generally shown a decline over the past year. The minor European recession has affected the traffic over a large number of European traffic ports, and thus also the Port of Hirtshals, through which a significant amount of cargo traffic passes between Norway and the European continent. In line with the total cargo transport over the Port of Hirtshals, the lorry traffic has suffered a stagnation as well, which however must be regarded as temporary.
- In a single business area, we have to some extent been influenced by external factors related to the minor European recession and in particular to Brexit. It is therefore conditions that we have no control over which have caused us a stagnation. This only reinforces our grounds for continuing to develop the Port of Hirtshals as a North European logistics centre, as we become less sensitive to external factors with a wider palette, the chairman concludes.
In mid-January 2020, Smyril Line opened a new ro/ro route between Hirtshals, Torshavn in the Faroe Islands and Torlakshöfn south of Reykjavik in Iceland. Smyril Line's choice to expand traffic from the Port of Hirtshals confirms the port's position as hub of the North Atlantic cargo transport, as well as Smyril Line's position as a key player in the North Atlantic cargo market is strengthened.