USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON SWEDEN

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - Sweden, officially Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden), constitutional monarchy in northern Europe, occupying the eastern portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is bordered on the north and west by Norway, on the north-east by Finland, on the east by the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea, and on the south-west by further bodies of water: the resund, the Kattegatt, and the Skagerrak. Sweden includes the islands of Gotland and land in the Baltic Sea. It is the fourth-largest nation in Europe. The total area of Sweden is 449,964 sq km (173,732 sq mi). Stockholm is the nation's capital and largest city.

B. Climate -  Because of maritime influences, particularly the warm North Atlantic Drift and the prevailing westerly airstreams, Sweden has higher temperatures than its northerly latitude would suggest. Stockholm averages –3°C (26°F) in February and 18°C (64°F) in July. As would be expected from its latitudinal extent, there is a wide divergence of climate between northern and southern Sweden: the north has a winter of more than seven months and a summer of less than three, while Skane in the south has a winter of about two months and a summer of more than four. The increasing shortness of summer northward is partly compensated for by comparatively high summer temperatures, the greater length of day, and the infrequency of summer cloud; the considerable cloud cover in winter reduces heat loss by radiation. Annual rainfall averages 61 cm (24 in) and is heaviest in the southwest and along the frontier between Norrland and Norway; the average rainfall for Lapland is about 30 cm (12 in) a year. The maximum rainfall occurs in late summer, and the minimum in early spring. There is considerable snowfall, and in the north snow remains on the ground for about half the year. Ice conditions in the surrounding seas, especially the Gulf of Bothnia, often are severe in winter and seriously interfere with navigation.

C. Geographical Area - Land area: 158,662 sq mi (410,934 sq km); total area: 173,732 sq mi (449,964 sq km)

D. Language - Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

E. Currency With Exchange Rate – Sweden Kronor (SEK)

1.00 SEK = 0.148160 USD

F. Population - (2006 est.): 9,016,596

G. Major Cities - Göteborg, Malmö, Uppsala

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 11,481 km (2002).

B. Road - total: 210,402 km; paved: 166,523 km (including 1,499 km of expressways); unpaved: 45,879 km (2000).

C. Airports - 245 (2002).

D. Waterways - 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges.

E. Sea ports - Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall.

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing - 

B. Major Export - $126.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals.

C. Major Import - $104.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing.

E. Major Industry - iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles.

F. Trade balance -

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Sweden:

Major Trade Associations

Chambers of Commerce

A) The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden
Tel: 46-40-690 24 00
Fax: 46-40-690 24 90
E-mail: info@handelskammaren.com
Web: www.handelskammaren.com

B) West Sweden Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tel: 46-31-83 59 00
Fax: 46-31-83 59 36
E-mail: info@handelskammaren.net
Web: www.handelskammaren.net

C) The Stockholm Chamber of Commerce
Västra Trädgårdsg 9
Box 16050
103 21 STOCKHOLM
Tel: 46-8-555 100 00
Fax: 46-8-566 316 35
E-mail: tradeofficer@chamber.se
Web: www.chamber.se 

D) The Wermland Chamber of Commerce 
Södra Kyrkogatan 6
652 24 KARLSTAD
Tel: 46-54-22 14 80
Fax: 46-54-22 14 90
E-mail: info@wermland.cci.se
Web: www.wermland.cci.se

E) Mid Sweden Chamber of Commerce
Kyrkogatan 26
852 32 SUNDSVALL
Tel: 46-60-17 18 80
Fax: 46-60-61 86 40
E-mail: dick.jansson@midchamber.se
Web: www.midchamber.se

F) The Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce
Kyrkogatan 11
972 32 Luleå
Tel: 46 920-43 56 60
Fax:  46 920-43 56 66
E-mail: info@north.cci.se
Web: www.north.cci.se

G) The Vesterbotten Chamber of Commerce
Expolaris Center
931 78 SKELLEFTEÅ
Tel: 46-910-77 08 90
Fax: 46-910-77 08 99
E-mail: handelskammaren@ac.cci.se
Web: www.ac.cci.se

H) The Chamber of Commerce of Central Sweden
Linnévägen 1
Box 296
801 04 GÄVLE
Tel: 46-26-66 20 80
Fax:46-26 66 20 99
E-mail: chamber@mhk.cci.se
Web: www.mhk.cci.se

Major Trade Shows

Tekniska Massan

Start Date: 16-OCT-2007

End Date: 19-OCT-2007

Venue:        

Stockholm International Fairs

Stockholm, Sweden

Organizer:

Stockholm International Fairs

S-125, 80 Stockholm, Massvagen 1,

Stockholm, Sweden.

Tel: +(46)-(8)-7494100

Fax: +(46)-(8)-992044

5. Useful links:

Sweden Importers, Dealers of Japanese Used Cars, Construction Machinery & Auto Parts