| Sweden is very much oriented towards overseas | | | | target of 2%. According to the Economic Survey of |
| trade. It has an up to date freight forwarding and | | | | Sweden 2007 by the OECD, the average inflation in |
| freight shipping infrastructure and excellent national | | | | Sweden has been one of the lowest among |
| and external communications. Particularly well | | | | European countries since the mid-1990s. Most |
| endowed with natural resources, Sweden's iron ore, | | | | international trade takes place with Germany, the |
| timber and hydropower are mainstays of the | | | | United States of America, Norway, the UK, Denmark, |
| Swedish economy, which is highly geared towards | | | | and Finland. |
| export. Sweden's engineering sector alone accounts | | | | Freight transport links and the availability of freight |
| for 50% of all earnings and exports. | | | | services is particularly well developed and the |
| Telecommunications, the automotive industry and | | | | markets are competitive for international freight |
| pharmaceuticals are also extremely important to the | | | | between these countries, ensuring that customers |
| national economy and account for a significant | | | | are well catered for. Any shipping company or freight |
| amount of all goods being transported by freight | | | | forwarder servicing these routes needs to ensure |
| companies out of Sweden. The largest companies in | | | | that their freight services are completely streamlined |
| Sweden include Volvo, Ericsson, Vattenfall, Skanska, | | | | and competitive. As well as external communications |
| Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Svenska | | | | and international freight transport routes, internal |
| Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Electrolux and Volvo | | | | communications are also efficient.The impressive |
| Personvagnar. Many of these enterprises have brand | | | | Oresund Bridge connects Malmoe in Sweden and |
| names that are famous worldwide. Sweden's industrial | | | | Copenhagen in Denmark. Sweden has nearly 163,000 |
| companies are mostly privately owned. | | | | km of paved road and nearly 1500 km of |
| The private sector is strong and growing, supported | | | | expressways. There are extensive motorway |
| by a highly educated and productive workforce. The | | | | arteries running throughout Sweden, Denmark and |
| private sector includes many freight shipping and | | | | over the Oresund Bridge to Stockholm, Gothenburg, |
| freight companies which have thrived on the back of | | | | Uppsala and Uddevalla. The network of motorways is |
| the successful and growing economy. The country | | | | still being developed, with a new motorway from |
| saw real GDP growth over the last decade until 2009, | | | | Uppsala to Gaevle having been finished in October |
| when the unfavourable global economy helped force | | | | 2007. |
| the country into recession. GDP per hour worked is | | | | The rail transport market is privatized, but while there |
| the world's 9th highest at 31 US dollars in 2006, | | | | are many privately owned enterprises, many |
| compared to only 22 US dollars in Spain, for example. | | | | operators are still owned by state or municipalities. |
| OECD say deregulation, globalization, and growth in | | | | The most significant rail operators include SJ, Veolia |
| the technology industry have been key drivers of | | | | Transport, Connex Group, Green Cargo, |
| productivity in Sweden. GDP per hour worked is | | | | Taagkompaniet, Inlandsbanan, and a number of |
| growing by approximately 2½ per cent a year for | | | | regional companies. Most of the railways are owned |
| the economy as a whole. This extremely positive | | | | and operated by Banverket. Freight transport by rail |
| situation has created the conditions on which the | | | | works efficiently and is a competitive option that is |
| international freight industry has been confident to | | | | recommended by many a freight company and |
| invest in the future. | | | | shipping company. Communication links by air are also |
| The World Economic Forum 2009-2010 | | | | very good in Sweden, meaning that freight |
| Competitiveness Index ranks Sweden the 4th most | | | | forwarding is simply never a problem. The largest |
| competitive economy in the world. Similarly, Sweden | | | | airports include Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, which |
| is ranked 9th in the IMD Competitiveness Yearbook | | | | carried a staggering 18 million passengers in 2007, 40 |
| 2008, scoring high in private sector efficiency. This | | | | km north of Stockholm, Gothenburg-Landvetter |
| culture of success has spawned innovation and | | | | Airport and Stockholm-Skavsta Airport. Sweden is |
| development in freight shipping and freight services | | | | also home to the two largest port companies in |
| as well as other sectors. The Swedes have rejected | | | | Scandinavia, Port of Goeteborg AB (Gothenburg) and |
| the euro in a referendum so Sweden has kept its | | | | the transnational company Copenhagen Malmoe Port |
| own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK). The | | | | AB. In summary then, Sweden has a modern, |
| Swedish Riksbank which was established in 1668 and | | | | competititive economy with high productivity and a |
| is therefore the oldest central bank in the world, is | | | | great transport infrastructure, making the country an |
| currently focusing on price stability with its inflation | | | | attractive market for potential importers. |