Danish ferry operator DFDS registered 3.1 million lane metres of freight across its network in August 2026, matching performance from the same month in 2025.
Freight activity across the North Sea exceeded 2025 levels behind higher demand on most routes, whereas Mediterranean volumes dipped slightly below the previous year because of reduced volume on one primary corridor.
English Channel freight contracted in line with an overall downturn across the wider ferry market, accompanied by lower volumes in the Baltic Sea and stronger growth on the Strait of Gibraltar.
Over the trailing 12 months, total transported freight lane metres rose 0.4 per cent to 41.8 million from 41.6 million, though volumes slipped 0.5 per cent when adjusted for route changes.
Passenger traffic decreased 4.6 per cent year on year to 934,000 travellers in August 2026, driven primarily by lower demand on the Dover Strait that mirrored broader market contractions.
For the last 12 months, passenger numbers fell 12.4 per cent to 4.9 million compared to 5.6 million, representing a 5.3 per cent decrease after adjusting for route adjustments.