It was not until 1775, when Frans Suell began work in the port, that it could really be called a port.
Before that, it was more of a collection of jetties that had been erected in the shallow waters of the Sound.
Construction work on the port increased during the Industrial Age at the end of the 1800s. During the 1840s and 1850s, the port was extended by closing in a triangular area to the west of the port and then gradually filling this area in.
The port was further extended at the end of the 1800s and the southern dock was constructed.
This extension entailed excavation work for the construction of a new dock and connecting canal, the shipyard area of 46,000 m² with six new slipways, etc.
Malmö's port was developed relatively late. Kockums Mekaniska workshop originally began its business at today's Davidshallstorg in 1840. Frans Henrik Kockum extended his tobacco business with a foundry and engineering workshop. The production was wide-based and covered everything from snuffboxes to agricultural implements, stoves and steam machines.
In 1870, F. H. Kockum purchased 1219 sq metres of land in the harbour area. This heralded the start of his debut in the shipbuilding industry. After only three years, in 1873, the first steam vessel left the yard. The business grew and more space was needed, which meant that in 1909 the engineering industry at Davidshall was also moved to the harbour.
Between 1911 and 1913, a foundry, an engineering workshop, an office and a carriage workshop were built. For many years, Kockums was to be one of the leading manufacturers of railway carriages. With the onset of World War I, Kockums found itself involved in vessel production for the Swedish navy.
Between the wars, shipbuilding methods developed and, in 1939, Kockums launched the world's first ocean-going vessel that was welded in one piece. Malmö's port was developed relatively late.
