DFDS Reports April Volume Trends Highlighting Passenger Increase
April Volumes Summary
In an analysis of DFDS’s performance for April, significant insights emerge regarding passenger and freight volumes. This month witnessed distinct trends in traffic due to the Easter holiday timing, impacting the flow of transportation across various routes.
Impact of Easter on Volume Reports
April volumes were notably influenced by the Easter holiday, which shifted this year’s peak passenger travel to a month earlier than last year. Consequently, this change shows a decrease in freight volumes while boosting passenger counts compared to April of the previous year.
Freight Volume Overview
This April, total freight volumes stood at 3.5 million lane metres, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.7% from 2024. When accounting for route adjustments, the drop grew to 2.5%. Year-to-date growth rates were reported at -0.4% and -1.0%, respectively.
Notably, North Sea routes experienced a downturn in automotive volumes between Germany and the UK, contributing to overall declines. Conversely, Mediterranean volumes reported an upsurge, attributed to a transition of road volumes to ferry service, capacity boosts between Tunisia and France, and a new connection between Egypt and Italy.
Channel crossings showed a lower volume compared to the previous year largely because of the Easter timing difference, while the Baltic Sea routes reported fewer volumes due to temporary capacity suspension on one specific route. However, the Strait of Gibraltar saw volumes rise, thereby offsetting some of the decrease in other areas.
Passenger Volume Insights
On the passenger side, April 2025 reflected a significant rise, with a jump of 15.1% resulting in 432,000 travellers compared to the previous year. This surge, notably, was largely driven by the Easter timing difference, signifying how seasonal factors can greatly influence passenger trends.
Not to be overlooked, the increase in car transport was also notable, with a 13.0% rise in vehicles transported on ferries. Over the course of the past twelve months, there was a total passenger count growth of 15.9% to 5.9 million, from 5.1 million in the preceding year. This increase adjusted for route alterations showed a healthy 3.7% growth.
Route Adjustments Explained
Adjustments in reported numbers were made for several operational changes, including the cessation of services between Oslo and Frederikshavn-Copenhagen at the end of October and changes on the Tarifa-Tanger Ville route due to significant capacity modifications. New routes to Jersey were also integrated, contributing to the altered statistics.
Annual Performance Review
Over the twelve months leading up to April 2025, overall freight lane metrics illustrated an increase of 4.6% in the total transported lane metres, moving from 39.6 million in 2024 to 41.4 million this year. This growth reflects the resilient demand for ferry transport logistics across European networks.
DFDS remains committed to providing efficient and reliable transportation solutions, optimizing routes to enhance both freight and passenger services. Their reporting on monthly ferry volumes serves as an essential resource for understanding evolving trends within their European operations.
The much-anticipated May 2025 volume report is set to be released in June, promising further insights as DFDS continues to monitor and respond dynamically to market trends.
Contact Information
Should you have any inquiries or require further information, please reach out to the DFDS team:
Torben Carlsen, CEO: +45 33 42 32 01
Karen Boesen, CFO: +45 20 58 58 40
Søren Brøndholt Nielsen, IR: +45 33 42 33 59
Dennis Kjærsgaard, Media: +45 42 30 38 47
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors influenced the passenger increase in April?
The increase is primarily attributed to the timing of the Easter holiday, which boosted travel compared to last year.
How has freight volume changed year over year?
Freight volumes decreased by 0.7%, with further declines observed when adjusted for route changes, noting a reduction in automotive shipments.
What were the total passenger numbers reported for April 2025?
The total passenger count in April reached 432,000, reflecting a 15.1% increase over the previous year.
What adjustments impacted the reported statistics?
Adjustments were made for the cessation of certain routes and the introduction of new services, which affected the total counts.
When will DFDS release the next volume report?
The next volume report for May 2025 is expected to be published in June at around 10.00am CET.
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