Freight volumes are up almost 14 per cent year-on-year for DFDS, with UK and Mediterranean routes driving the increases.
Monthly figures for January showed a 13.8 per cent increase, set against a backdrop of new Brexit rules and procedures at the start of 2021.
Giving its monthly volume report to the City, the Danish giant with its UK headquarters in Immingham, saw volumes on all ferry routes “increase considerably.”
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Stock-building ahead of Brexit was also a key factor, the business said.
And the volumes were higher than January 2020, up from 3.21 million lane metres to 3.22 million – the last month before the impact Covid could have on world trade started to emerge.
The rolling last 12 months is showing a 6.7 per cent increase, and 5 per cent on the 2019-20 figure, when Brexit uncertainty was seen as stifling some trade.
The upticks come as major new roll-on roll-off facilities are planned for the North Sea, with Stena Line investing alongside ABP, again at Immingham, in what is a £100 million, 50-year agreement.
A four berth terminal has been proposed following a long-term deal being orchestrated.
For DFDS, net adjustments for structural route changes meant growth of 13.1 per cent.
Mediterranean success was aided by the deployment of more capacity and “continued good growth in Turkish exports,” the company said.
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