Swedish ferry company, Rederi AB Eckero reported record cargo and passenger volumes during March to June this year.
Both ‘Finlandia’ and ‘Eckerö’ were drydocked at Landskrona at the beginning of the year, and as a result, the company scheduled 6% fewer departures during the first half of 2024.
A total of 1,332,497 passengers sailed on the company’s vessels, which was a 6% decrease, compared to 1H23 (1,416,387 pax).
Despite the dockings, passenger traffic developed well during 1H24. From March to June, 2024, more passengers travelled on the company’s vessels than ever before. In March, a record number of passengers travelled on the company’s Finland/Estonia and Åland/Sweden routes, and in June, a record number of passengers travelled on the Finland/Estonia route.
The number of cargo units totalled 89,068, which was 3% more than in the same period last year (86,763 units). On average, 9% more cargo units were transported per departure, compared to 1H23.
Eckero also reported that the sale of ‘Shipper’ was completed on 22nd January, at a price of €4.5 mill.
The result effect before taxes amounted to €3.2 mill, while sales amounted to €99.5 mill, which was 3% lower than 1H23 (€102.1 mill).
The sales decrease was due to the reduced number of departures. However, sales per passenger increased by 4% compared to 1H23.
The operating result was €2.7 mill (€6.5 mill). Adjusted for the sales of ‘Shipper’ in January, 2024 and ‘Exporter’ in June, 2023, the operating result was minus €0.5 (€2.7 mill), while the result for the period was €1 mill (€1.3 mill).
On the Finland/Estonia route, the passenger market share was 27% (30%) and the market share for cargo was 36% (36%). During 1H24, the market share between Åland and Sweden was estimated to be over four-fifths of the total number of people travelling on that route.
Net debt amounted to €5.5 mill as of 30th June, 2024 (€10 mill).
During 2Q24, 859,172 passengers travelled on the company’s vessels, which was 3% fewer than during the same period last year (882,209).
A significant reason for the lower passenger numbers in this quarter was that the Easter holiday, a popular time for travelling, was in March, 2024 instead of April.
The number of cargo units carried in 2Q24 was 49,309, which was 11% more than during the same period last year (44,326).
Sales amounted to €63.3 mill (€62.8 mill). Sales per passenger increased by 3%, compared to 2Q23. The operating result was €6.9 mill (€11.9 mill), while the result for the period was €5 mill (€6.9 mill).
On the Finland/Estonia route, Eckero’s passenger market share was 29% (30%) and the market share for cargo was 38% (37%).
In June, the Finland/Estonia route reached a new record with 240,274 passengers travelling (the previous record from March, 2023 stood at 222,570 passengers).
