FREE PORT OF MALMO 123
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3
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JL
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tioned, the Free Port of Malmo can hardly be said to have exercised
ny notable influence on the development of foreign trade and of the
@erchant marine. It is a matter of common knowledge that the
Free Port of Malmo which was expected to give to this city a commer-
cial development eventually rivalling that of Copenhagen, has thus
far proved a great disappointment. Established trade routes and
business practices are difficult to change, and the establishment of
the local free port can not be said to have diverted any considerable
Portion of the Scandinavian and Baltic transshipment trade from the
Denish capital, which for many years has been regarded as the
natural entrepos for Scandinavia by foreign business men. This
attitude is resented greatly by Swedish importers, especially as
fegards goods destined for Sweden, direct shipments to this country
being desired.
The free harbor was built under war conditions and proved an
®Xtremely expensive undertaking. The interest on the investment is
ery heavy.
Growth of commerce and shipping in free zone.—There is given below
® table furnished by the director of the free port showing the business
of the port from 1923 to 1927. inclusive:
TC ——
J
1023
1
1924
1
1925 1926 [ 1997
3
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5
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1
pr
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-
gq
2 i weemoneo—...DUmber__
EE ————
Railway Wagons outgoing. ....-.......number..
Wantity of goods landed _....._._.___metric tons. .
Janiicy of goods loaded. SR —
yillway goods received... JL. TIII0T0 TC
Yllway goods delivered... TTI TTT
3000S taken into StOrAge.-..... ....-...- ion oo
“8lance of stored goods at the end of the year.ao....
“UStormhouse collection... Swedish crown...
95
60,414
1,823
23,909 |
2,841
7, 489
J, 301
8,010
2052 we
353. 963 12. 090. 606
184 209
82,119 92,437
2,151 2, 400
28, 791 41, 007
5,670 4191
4,164 3, 608
19, 209 21,712
15,385 12, 005
ew 3013 4,000
1, 7680. 608 12,084. 605 ! 2. 354 360
It may be of interest to note that for the first quarter of 1928, the
uantity of goods landed amounted to 31,789 tons, and the quantity
of goods loaded to 3,528 tons, which figures closely approach those
{or the entire year of 1927. This remarkable increase in the business
of the free port is explained by the fact that, inasmuch as the city of
Malmo owns the Malmo customs port and practically all shares in
the free port company, vessels have been diverted from the customs
Port to the free port, when there has been a lack of berthing space in
a former, the profit in either case going to the city. It is chiefly
odstufls, such as rapeseed cakes, etc., which have been discharged
V diversion from the customs port in the free harbor. -
Quantity and kind of goods discharged and loaded in the free port of
Yale during 1927.—The following table shows the quantity and
ned of goods discharged and loaded in the free port of Malmo during
927, When not otherwise stated, the figures represent kilograms.
