UN/LOCODE: SESDL📍 Sweden
Port of Sundsvall (UN/LOCODE SESDL)
❖ Coordinates: 62.3800°N, 17.3000°E
❖ Time Zone: Europe/Stockholm
❖ UN/LOCODE: SESDL
## About the Port
Located at the mouth of the Selångersån in the city of Sundsvall, the **Port of Sundsvall** (UN/LOCODE: **SESDL**) serves as a strategic gateway to Sweden’s north‑central Baltic coastline. Situated in **Västernorrlands län** at 62.38° N, 17.30° E, the port operates on **Europe/Stockholm** time (UTC+1/UTC+2 DST) and benefits from a natural deep‑water inlet that accommodates vessels up to **13 m draught**. Its proximity to the **European Union’s North Sea–Baltic corridor** makes Sundsvall a pivotal hub for intermodal traffic, linking maritime routes with the Swedish rail network (Stambanan Norrland) and the E4 highway. The port’s catchment area extends across central‑northern Sweden, covering industries from timber processing to renewable‑energy manufacturing, and attracting regular feeder services from the Baltic states, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Baltic Sea ports of Poland and Finland.
*Key identifiers:*
- **UN/LOCODE:** SESDL
- **Port Authority:** Sundsvalls Hamn AB (operated under the Swedish Maritime Administration)
- **Website:** official port site↗
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## History
Sundsvall’s maritime heritage dates back to the **mid‑17th century**, when the Crown granted the town a charter to export timber and tar—commodities that fueled the burgeoning Swedish navy. The original wooden quay was replaced by a stone pier in 1856, coinciding with the arrival of the **Northern Railway (Norrlandsbanan)**, which transformed the port into a multimodal logistics node.
During the **early 20th century**, the port expanded to accommodate the pulp‑and‑paper boom, prompting the construction of dedicated grain elevators and a ship‑repair yard in 1923. World War II saw a temporary surge in bulk iron ore shipments, after which the port pivoted toward chemical and steel products associated with the region’s growing metallurgical sector.
The **1990s** marked a wave of privatization and infrastructure modernization under the EU’s Port Policy framework. In 2005, a new container terminal equipped with a **gantry crane** and automated handling systems was inaugurated, enabling Sundsvall to join the **Baltic Container Network**. Recent investments (2018‑2023) have focused on deep‑water berths for offshore wind turbine components, aligning the port with Sweden’s ambitious **green‑energy roadmap**.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
| Facility | Detail |
|----------|--------|
| **Berths** | 7 berths (4 general cargo, 2 container, 1 bulk) with a combined quay length of **2 km**; maximum draught **13 m**. |
| **Equipment** | Mobile cranes (30 t–70 t), ship‑to‑shore gantry crane (30 m outreach), conveyor‑belt bulk handling, refrigerated storage (2 × 10 000 m³). |
| **Warehousing** | 150 000 m² of covered storage, including climate‑controlled silos for pulp and paper, and a 20 000 m² bonded warehouse for high‑value goods. |
| **Rail & Road Links** | Direct rail link to the **Stambanan Norrland** (capacity 15 000 t/day); 8 × 10‑meter truck gates with automated gate‑entry system; proximity to **E4** highway for efficient road haulage. |
| **Customs & Security** | Integrated customs clearance via the Swedish Customs Agency; ISO‑9001‑certified security operations complying with the **International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code**. |
| **Support Services** | Ship repair and dry‑dock (1 × 400 m slipway), bunkering (diesel, MGO), freshwater supply, and crew‑change facilities. |
| **Sustainability** | Shore‑power (cold ironing) for emissions‑free berthing, on‑site wastewater treatment plant meeting EU Water Framework Directive standards, and a 5 MW solar array contributing to the port’s energy mix. |
The port’s **container terminal** handles up to **120 000 TEU** annually, while the **dry bulk terminal** processes roughly **2 million t** of timber, grain, and mineral cargo each year. The **project cargo area** is designed for oversized loads such as wind‑turbine blades, with a 12‑meter clearance height and reinforced quay pavement.
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## Economic Importance
Sundsvall’s port is the economic linchpin of Västernorrlands län, contributing **approximately SEK 2.4 billion** in annual regional GDP and supporting more than **4 500 direct and indirect jobs**. The port’s diversified cargo mix underpins several key industrial clusters:
* **Forest‑products sector:** Over **1 million t** of sawn timber, pulp, and paper are exported yearly, feeding pulp‑and‑paper mills in Gävle, Kramfors, and the broader Baltic market.
* **Metallurgy & steel:** The nearby **Stålverket Sundsvall** steel plant relies on the port for inbound iron ore and outbound steel billets, accounting for roughly **400 000 t** of cargo.
* **Renewable energy:** The port’s recent expansion for offshore wind components has attracted projects such as the **Lillgrund** and **Björken** turbine farms, generating an estimated **€150 million** in ancillary services annually.
* **Food & agribusiness:** Grain imports for local feed‑lots and the export of malted barley to the European brewing industry are facilitated by the port’s bulk handling facilities.
The port’s **intermodal connectivity** lowers logistics costs by up to **15 %** for regional manufacturers, enhancing competitiveness against Baltic rivals such as Gdańsk and Klaipėda. Additionally, the **customs‑free zone** within the port promotes value‑added processing, encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in the form of assembly plants and distribution centers.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Trade Routes
Sundsvall’s strategic position on the **Baltic Sea** enables it to serve both **north‑south** (Sweden‑Finland‑Estonia) and **east‑west** (Germany‑Netherlands‑UK) corridors. The port maintains regular liner services with:
* **St. Petersburg, Russia** – timber and pulp exports (seasonal).
* **Riga, Latvia** – container and general cargo (weekly feeder).
* **Gothenburg, Sweden** – domestic intra‑Swedish traffic and cross‑link to the North Sea.
* **Hamburg, Germany** – container flows for downstream EU distribution.
* **Rotterdam, Netherlands** – trans‑Atlantic connections via larger feeder vessels.
The port also supports **short‑sea shipping** through the **Baltic Sea Route**, providing rapid 2‑day turn‑arounds for high‑value cargoes such as pharmaceuticals and electronics.
### Major Cargo
| Cargo Type | Annual Volume (approx.) | Primary Trade Partners |
|-----------|------------------------|------------------------|
| **Forest products** (timber, pulp, paper) | 1 000 000 t | Finland, Estonia, Germany |
| **Steel & metal products** | 400 000 t | Norway, Denmark, Poland |
| **Bulk grains & malt** | 250 000 t | UK, Belgium, Latvia |
| **Containerized goods** | 120 000 TEU | Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| **Project cargo (wind turbines, heavy equipment)** | 15 000 t | Denmark, Germany, Norway |
| **Petrochemical & chemical** | 80 000 t | Russia, France, Spain |
The **container segment** is dominated by **electronics, automotive parts, and consumer goods**, while **project cargo** has surged by **30 %** since 2019, reflecting the regional push toward offshore wind farms in the **Baltic Sea**.
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*For further technical specifications, consult the Swedish Maritime Administration’s port database* (link)↗.
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*Keywords for SEO:* Port of Sundsvall, SESDL, Swedish Baltic port, Västernorrlands län logistics, Sundsvall cargo handling, Swedish offshore wind port, Baltic Sea trade routes.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
SESDL
Country
Sweden
Province / Region
Västernorrlands län
Latitude
62.380000
Longitude
17.300000
Timezone
Europe/Stockholm
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Sundsvall?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Sundsvall is SESDL.
Where is Port of Sundsvall located?
The Port of Sundsvall is located in Sweden, Västernorrlands län. Its coordinates are 62.3800°N, 17.3000°E.
What time zone is Port of Sundsvall in?
Port of Sundsvall operates in the Europe/Stockholm time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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