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DFDS May 2025 Volumes: Freight Growth Outpaces Passenger Decline

DFDS recorded a 4.5% increase in freight volumes for May 2025, reaching 3.7 million lane metres, driven by growth in most network regions, though tempered by a Swedish strike and new ferry competition. Year-to-date (YTD) freight growth was modest at 0.6%. Conversely, passenger numbers fell 4.7% to 411,000, primarily due to lower Channel volumes, with YTD passenger growth down 3.6%. Over the past 12 months, freight volumes rose 4.5% to 41.6 million lane metres, while passengers increased 17.4% to 6.2 million, reflecting route adjustments.

Freight Performance: In May 2025, DFDS’s total freight volumes reached 3.7 million lane metres, a 4.5% increase compared to May 2024, and 2.5% higher when adjusted for route changes. Year-to-date (YTD) figures showed a 0.6% rise, though adjusted growth was slightly negative at -0.3%.

  • North Sea: Volumes exceeded 2024 levels, despite a late-month Swedish national strike disrupting Gothenburg port operations.
  • Mediterranean: Volumes grew due to expanded capacity on the Tunisia-France route and a new Egypt-Italy route. However, adjusted for route changes, volumes dipped due to new ferry competition on the Türkiye-Italy route.
  • Channel: Volumes surpassed 2024 levels, adjusted for the addition of Jersey routes.
  • Baltic Sea: Volumes fell below 2024, primarily due to reduced capacity on one route following tonnage adjustments.
  • Strait of Gibraltar: Volumes were higher than in 2024.

Over the last 12 months (2025-24), total freight lane metres rose 4.5% to 41.6 million from 39.8 million in 2024-23, with a 0.6% increase when adjusted for route changes.

Passenger Performance: Passenger numbers in May 2025 dropped 4.7% to 411,000 compared to 2024, adjusted for route changes, with a YTD decline of 3.6%. The decrease was largely driven by lower Channel volumes. Car numbers also fell, down 6.3% from 2024, adjusted for route changes.

For the 2025-24 period, total passengers grew 17.4% to 6.2 million from 5.3 million in 2024-23, though the adjusted increase was 1.4%, reflecting route changes.

Note: Adjustments account for the sale of the Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route in October 2025, significant capacity changes on the Tarifa-Tanger Ville route before its exit in early May 2025, and the addition of Jersey routes from March 2025.

DFDS ferry volumes                
  May   Last-12-months
Freight 2023 2024 2025 Change   2023 2024 2025 Change
Lane metres, '000 3,282 3,510 3,668 4.5%   39,274 39,839 41,613 4.5%
                   
Passenger 2023 2024 2025 Change   2023 2024 2025 Change
Passengers, '000 385 574 452 -21.2%   4,275 5,288 6,210 17.4%

Jun 12 2025


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