Historic 45% growth in container turnover breaks multiple records at Denmark’s largest commercial port

Container traffic growth at Denmark’s largest commercial port continues to reach new heights. July in particular delivered extraordinary figures, with an increase of over 45 percent compared to last year. Growth from 59,726 TEU to 86,835 TEU (TEU = 20-foot containers). This is the highest number of containers ever handled at the Port of Aarhus, through which over 70 percent of all containers in Denmark pass.

These significant figures come after an already busy first six months of 2025, where container traffic overall grew by more than 13 percent compared to the previous year. The container growth is a result of the Port of Aarhus’ strong network of shipping routes, which has been further strengthened in 2025 with new routes, the geopolitical situation, and Aarhus increasingly being used as a strategically important hub for container freight to the rest of Europe.

However, the rise in container turnover also puts pressure on the port’s capacity, with a three-year-old record for the number of containers handled in a single week being broken back in week 22 with 19,127 TEU over seven days. This record has now been surpassed again with a total of 20,212 TEU handled in week 29.

“We are pleased that the trend of significant growth in cargo turnover continues. Our already strong network of routes has been expanded with new connections, while the geopolitical situation is sending more containers to Aarhus, and we are increasingly experiencing that Aarhus is an important hub for container freight to the rest of Europe,” says Thomas Haber Borch, CEO at Port of Aarhus, continuing:

“The large volumes of cargo require a lot from the terminal operator, the companies at the port and our employees. This puts additional pressure on our available space, but through a joint effort we can deliver exceptionally high efficiency and competitive operations that support Danish business and supply security.”

The many containers also come with more container ships. In July, a total of 53 container ships arrived at the Port of Aarhus. This is 32 percent more container ships compared to July last year.

Figures for container turnover in 2025 compared with 2024