The amount of cargo traffic in the Port of Helsinki increased strongly during the first months of the year. In January–March, the total amount of goods transported through the Port of Helsinki was 3.3 million tonnes, which is 10.6% more than during the corresponding period the previous year. The strong increase in exports was particularly pleasing: the growth percentage, compared to the previous year, was 13.3, and the tonnage added up to 1.6 million. During this period, imports increased by 10.8%, totalling at 1.7 million tonnes. In terms of unitized cargo, exports are increasing faster than imports.
Exports from Finland began to increase towards the end of 2016. At the same time, the Port of Helsinki has won an increasing share of the export market, thanks to its excellent ship connections. Approximately half of the value of Finnish sea transport runs through the Port of Helsinki.
Even with Easter in April this year, the amount of passenger traffic during the first months of the year remained at the level of the previous year (-0.6%). A total of 2.24 million passengers passed through the Port of Helsinki in January–March.
– These kinds of growth rates indicate that the amount of cargo traffic for the entire year may be in line with our record years, says CEO Kimmo Mäki from the Port of Helsinki.
– We reached record-breaking numbers in passenger traffic last year with 11.6 million passengers. We are expecting quite a busy summer, with up to 24 passenger ship departures per day. Our all-time record in cargo traffic, a total of 13 million tonnes of goods that passed through the Port of Helsinki, is from 2007. Based on the excellent development during the beginning of the year, we are expecting this year’s traffic to reach or at least come close to the previous records, particularly as the export transportations from the Metsä Group Äänekoski bioproduct mill, which are to start in early autumn, are expected to increase the amount of traffic significantly.
Of the unitized cargo traffic in the Port of Helsinki in March 2017, 566,600 tonnes consisted of export, and 487,600 tonnes of import. Over 90% of the cargo traffic in the Port of Helsinki is unitized. For example, food products, consumables, and investment goods are transported in large-sized units, such as containers, trucks, and semitrailers.
For more information, please contact:
CEO Kimmo Mäki, Port of Helsinki Ltd
tel. +358 (0)9 3103 3500
kimmo.maki(at)portofhelsinki.fi
graphs: financial secretary Kirsi Polojärvi, Port of Helsinki Ltd
tel. +358 (0)9 3103 3503
kirsi.polojarvi(at)portofhelsinki.fi
