The Port of Hirtshals has seen strong growth in 2024, and has returned some very healthy figures for the year that saw increased activity across the board – but the largest surge has been in fisheries, in terms of both volumes and values as 2024’s catch values were the highest for five years.
The DKK496 million worth of seafood that passed across the quays and through the auction is a 29% increase compared to 2023.
‘Fishing in Hirtshals and the traffic across the quay are a key aspect of our work and one of the indicators of how we, our partners and customers in and near the port are doing. We are of course working to ensure that the positive trend of increased traffic continues into 2025,’ said Port of Hirtshal CEO Per Holm Nørgaard.
The port is set for expansion as work continues on the Nordhavn area, seen as essential for the port is to be able to maintain its position as a central traffic hub between Norway and Europe. The annual accounts for 2024 demonstrate the Port of Hirtshals’ strategic focus on strengthening the financial foundation for the expansion, which is being implemented in stages.
‘The expansion is a future-proofing of Hirtshals, enabling the port to meet the increasing demand for larger facilities from our customers. Therefore, in 2024, we have focused on increasing our liquidity and creating an even stronger financial basis for the work with Nordhavn in the coming years,’ Per Holm Nørgaard said, predicting that the port expects to set a new revenue record in 2025, exceeding the 2024 figure of DKK87.4 million in revenue.
‘A record turnover in 2024 and another year of solid earnings is very satisfying,’ said Michael Lundgaard Thomsen, chairman of the port’s board of directors.
‘During the year, the port’s board and management have worked closely together to strengthen the port’s core activities within fishing, logistics, maritime services and circularity. The annual accounts for 2024 also reflect that we, the board, have made a number of strategic decisions that ensure timely and future-proof investments in the expansion of the Port of Hirtshals and sustainable growth. These are investments that not only shape the port’s future, but also strengthen the overall business ecosystem in the region, of which the Port of Hirtshals is a central part.’
