| Sweden is a staunch advocate of free trade and this | | | | spans the kilometres of water separating the two |
| is enshrined in Sweden's liberal trade policies. The | | | | countries. Freight forwarders have been able to trim |
| whole concept of free international trade is at the | | | | journey times and costs since the bridge was |
| heart of Sweden's economic policies and its roots | | | | opened. |
| were established as much as a thousand years ago. | | | | Although much of Sweden's exports are raw |
| Sweden is not blessed with a terrain or climate that | | | | materials and resources such as pulp, wood and iron |
| is good for agriculture and this led to Sweden starting | | | | ore, Sweden also exports branded products. Some |
| to import from Russia and South East Europe as long | | | | Swedish export brands are incredibly well known right |
| ago as the 11th century. It is strange to think that | | | | across the globe. Indeed, there surely cannot be |
| even at that time and long before the phrase was | | | | many people who have not heard of household |
| invented, Sweden was engaged in freight forwarding! | | | | names such as Ericsson, Volvo, Saab, Electrolux or |
| The long tradition of international trade has continued | | | | IKEA. |
| to evolve since that time and a thriving international | | | | European countries also account for the majority of |
| freight sector has sprung up to service the needs of | | | | the imports into Sweden. The main imports are |
| both importers and exporters. | | | | chemicals, clothing, foodstuffs, motor vehicles, iron |
| Both the imports and exports from Sweden are now | | | | and steel, machinery, petroleum and petroleum |
| at a high level. Sweden has a very strong export | | | | products. |
| sector and has made large surpluses on its trade for | | | | Indeed, nearly 70% of all imports to Sweden come |
| the last decade. The largest single export category is | | | | from within the European Union, with the most |
| machinery and equipment, making up a third of all | | | | significant amount coming from Germany, United |
| exports from Sweden. This has evolved directly from | | | | Kingdom, France and Norway. The United Kingdom is |
| the important iron ore industry that began to be | | | | single-handedly responsible for 10% of all of |
| formed in Sweden as early as the seventeenth | | | | Sweden's imports. |
| century. After machinery and equipment, the next | | | | This steady stream of international trade between |
| most important exports are motor vehicles, paper | | | | Sweden and the United Kingdom has spawned the |
| products,chemicals,iron and steel products and pulp | | | | development of an effective infrastructure for |
| and wood. The vast majority of these exports are | | | | international freight between the two countries, with |
| bulky items and some, such as chemicals, require | | | | a number of freight forwarders having established |
| freight forwarders to pay especially close attention | | | | expertise and robust systems, so that the whole |
| to their safe freight transport. So the shipping | | | | process of the freight transport of goods can be |
| companies that service Sweden's exporters are highly | | | | relied upon to be speedy and trouble free. |
| experienced and have developed systems to ensure | | | | In recent years, freight forwarders have started |
| that every load is transported safely and securely. | | | | making increasing use of IT and technology to make |
| Nearly 60% of all Swedish exports go to other | | | | the systems still more streamlined and |
| countries in Europe. Of these, Germany is the most | | | | customer-focussed and freight forwarding between |
| important, accounting for a share of 11%, followed | | | | the UK and Sweden is at the forefront of this trend. |
| by the United Kingdom, Norway and the United | | | | Sweden has a long and illustrious history of |
| States of America, which account for 9% each. | | | | international trade and the freight services sector is |
| Stockholm Airport is an important freight forwarding | | | | now embracing modern technology to ensure that it |
| hub for the transport of goods overseas and | | | | has a bright future too. The economy in Sweden is |
| especially to the United States, although shipping by | | | | robust and has been less rocked than most other |
| sea is also used extensively. | | | | countries by the current period of economic |
| Of slightly less importance as trade partners are the | | | | turbulence. The freight company or shipping company |
| neighbouring countries of Denmark and Finland, | | | | involved in Swedish international freight can face the |
| accounting for 6% and 5% of Swedish exports | | | | future with confidence, despite the downturn, |
| respectively. Trade with Denmark is now made easier | | | | knowing that for Sweden, imports and exports are |
| since the creation of the Oresunde Bridge, which | | | | its lifeblood. |