Sweden is very much oriented towards overseas trade. It has an up to date logistics and freight shipping infrastructure and excellent inland and international communications. Particularly well endowed with natural resources, Sweden's iron ore, timber and hydropower are mainstays of the national economy, which is highly geared towards export. Sweden's engineering sector alone accounts for 50% of all production and exports. Telecommunications, the car production industry and pharmaceuticals are also extremely important to the national economy and account for a significant amount of all exports being transported by shipping companies out of Sweden. The largest Swedish companies include Volvo, Ericsson, Vattenfall, Skanska, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Electrolux and Volvo Personvagnar. Many of these enterprises have brands that are famous worldwide. Sweden's industrial companies are mostly in private control. The private sector is vigorous and growing, aided by a highly educated and productive workforce. The private sector encompasses many freight services and international transport specialists which have thrived on the back of the successful and growing economy. The country saw real GDP growth over the last decade until 2009, when the unfavourable global economy helped force the country into recession. GDP per hour worked is the world's 9th highest at 31 US dollars in 2006, compared to only 22 US dollars in Spain, for example. OECD say deregulation, globalization, and growth in the technology industry have been key drivers of productivity in Sweden. GDP per hour worked is growing by approximately 2 per cent a year for the economy as a whole. This very positive situation has created the conditions on which the international forwarding sector has been confident to invest in the future. The World Economic Forum 2009-2010 Competitiveness Index ranks Sweden the 4th most competitive economy in the world. Similarly, Sweden is ranked 9th in the IMD Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, scoring high in private sector efficiency. This culture of success has spawned innovation and development in freight shipping and freight services as well as other sectors. The Swedes have rejected the euro in a referendum so Sweden has kept its own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK). The Swedish Riksbank which was founded in 1668 and is therefore the oldest central bank in the world, is currently focusing on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. According to the Economic Survey of Sweden 2007 by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s. Most international trade takes place with Germany, the United States of America, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland. Freight transport links and the provision of freight services is particularly well developed and the markets are competitive for international freight between these countries, ensuring that customers are well catered for. Any shipping company or freight forwarder servicing these routes needs to ensure that their freight services are completely streamlined and competitive. As well as external communications and international freight transport routes, internal communications are also efficient.The impressive Oresund Bridge connects Malmoe in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark. Sweden has nearly 163,000 km of paved road and nearly 1500 km of expressways. There are extensive motorway arteries running throughout Sweden, Denmark and over the Oresund Bridge to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala and Uddevalla. The network of motorways is still under construction, with a new motorway from Uppsala to Gaevle having been finished in October 2007. The rail transport market is privatized, but while there are many privately owned businesses, many operators are still owned by state or municipalities. The most significant rail operators include SJ, Veolia Transport, Connex Group, Green Cargo, Taagkompaniet, Inlandsbanan, and a number of regional businesses. Most of the railways are owned and operated by Banverket. Rail freight works efficiently and is a competitive option that is recommended by many a freight forwarder and shipping company. Communication links by air are also excellent in Sweden, meaning that freight forwarding is simply never a problem. The largest airports include Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, which carried a staggering 18 million passengers in 2007, 40 km north of Stockholm, Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport and Stockholm-Skavsta Airport. Sweden is also home to the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, Port of Goeteborg AB (Gothenburg) and the transnational company Copenhagen Malmoe Port AB. In summary then, Sweden has a modern, competititive economy with high productivity and a great transport infrastructure, making the country an attractive market for potential importers. About the Author: Stephen Willis is Managing Director of RW Freight Services a UK based freight transport company, established in 1971 and operating worldwide freight forwarding services including specialist freight services to and from Sweden  Related ContentPost a comment
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