Denmark's largest commercial port delivers revenue growth in a stormy year

2024 was a stormy year for Denmark's largest commercial port. Geopolitical tensions have affected world trade, and a local political decision to suspend an otherwise agreed port expansion has left it's mark on the Port of Aarhus' annual result.

- There is no doubt that 2024 has been a challenging year for us. In particular, the political decision to suspend the port expansion has negatively affected our result. Of course, I am disappointed about that. But I am satisfied that, despite this, we have managed to secure a strong increase in turnover and that we have ensured stable freight turnover together with the Danish business community,” says Thomas Haber Borch, CEO of the Port of Aarhus.

In 2024, 9,973,569 tons of cargo were handled over the quays in Aarhus. That's a slight decrease of just under two percent compared to 2023. But overall, the Port of Aarhus, together with the companies in the port area and the rest of the business community, has delivered an increase in cargo volumes of almost 27 percent over the past 10 years.

- During 2024, we have achieved the highest occupancy rate on our areas and are experiencing high demand for quay-adjacent areas from the business community. Therefore, our most important task in the coming years will be to find a way forward in which we will have more land near the quay. We will work hard for this in a new form of company, which will give us new opportunities. This is absolutely crucial in order to create sustainable development and to ensure Danish supply in both the short and long term,” says Thomas Haber Borch.

The Port of Aarhus ends 2024 with a profit of DKK 86 million. This is after a write-down of DKK 50 million as a result of the political decision to pause an otherwise agreed port expansion. The Port of Aarhus has equity of DKK 2,582 million and liquidity of DKK 731 million.

Continuing the work towards carbon neutrality in 2030

The Port of Aarhus has a goal of being CO2-neutral in its own operations by 2030. Already in 2020, an ambitious plan was laid out to achieve the goals. Despite a small increase in CO2e emissions by 2024, the port is moving in the right direction towards the target, says Thomas Haber Borch:

- We want to take the lead in the green transition. That is why we are working every day to stay on course for carbon neutrality by 2030. In 2024, we have had a slight increase in CO2e emissions, which is primarily due to higher activity for our boats. However, in the coming years, we will take more significant steps to reduce our emissions, so we will reach our goal.

Aarhus Port's total CO2E emissions in 2024 were 1,387 tonnes.