The port of Gothenburg has been buoyed by 40% year-on-year increases in car volumes over the first four months of the year, with other cargo sectors also reporting growth.

The Swedish port handled 62,500 cars between January and April, compared with 157,000 for the whole of 2009.

The port said the car segment was the hardest hit during the recession.

Gothenburg also saw container volumes increase year-on-year by 13% over the four-month period to 296,000teu and noted a record month in March, when it handled 83,450teu, up 30% year-on-year.