Routes & Operators
DFDS September freight level with last year, passengers down 4.7%
DFDS carried 3.5 million lane metres of freight in September 2026, level with a year earlier, while passengers fell 4.7% to 403,000, mainly on the Strait of Gibraltar.
Source: DFDS (opens in a new tab)
DFDS said September 2026 freight volumes of 3.5 million lane metres were level with September 2025. North Sea volumes were above 2025, with higher Continent-UK volumes offsetting a slowdown in Scandinavian automotive traffic. Mediterranean volumes were also above 2025. Channel volumes were below 2025 because total ferry-market volumes fell, and Baltic Sea and Strait of Gibraltar volumes were below 2025.
The accompanying table lists 3,488 thousand lane metres, 0.3% below 3,498 thousand in September 2025. Passengers decreased 4.7% to 403,000, which DFDS attributed mainly to lower Strait of Gibraltar volumes. Over the last twelve months, freight lane metres rose 0.3% to 41.8 million from 41.6 million, and fell 0.5% adjusted for route changes. Passengers over the same period fell 10.5% to 4.9 million from 5.5 million, or 6.4% adjusted for route changes.