DFDS May 2025 Statistics

June 14, 2025

Ferry – freight:

Total volumes in May 2025 of 3.7m lane metres were 4.5% above 2024 and up 2.5% adjusted for route changes. YTD growth rates were 0.6% and -0.3%, respectively.

  • North Sea volumes were above 2024 despite a negative impact towards the end of the month from a national strike in Sweden impacting port operations in Gothenburg.
  • Mediterranean volumes were above 2024 driven by a capacity increase between Tunisia and France as well as the opening of a new route between Egypt and Italy.
  • Adjusted, Mediterranean volumes were below 2024. Reason: route changes due to new ferry competition between Türkiye and Italy (Grimaldi Group).
  • Channel volumes were above 2024 adjusted for the new Jersey routes.
  • Baltic Sea volumes were below 2024 due to mostly lower capacity on one route following tonnage changes.
  • Strait of Gibraltar volumes were above 2024.

For the last twelve months 2025-24, the total transported freight lane metres increased 4.5% to 41.6m from 39.8m in 2024-23. The increase was 0.6% adjusted for route changes.

Ferry – passenger:

The number of passengers in May 2025 was adjusted for route changes* down 4.7% to 411k vs 2024 and the adjusted YTD growth rate was -3.6%.

The monthly decrease was driven by lower Channel volumes.

The number of cars in May was 6.3% below 2024 adjusted for route changes.

For the last twelve months 2025-24, the total number of passengers increased 17.4 % to 6.2m compared to 5.3m for 2024-23. The increase was 1.4% adjusted for route changes.

*Adjusted for sale of Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen end October 2025, Tarifa-Tanger Ville due to considerable capacity changes ahead of exit from route early May 2025, and addition of Jersey routes from end March 2025.