From January to May, the total volume of cargo transported through the Port of Helsinki was 5.8 million tonnes, which is 1.1% less than during the same period the previous year.
The Port of Helsinki specializes in unitized cargo, meaning that goods transit through it mainly in maritime containers, trucks and trailers. The volume of unitized cargo was 495,000, 4.9% more than the previous year.
Container traffic in TEU increased 9.4% year-on-year, while the number of trucks and trailers exceeded that of the previous year by 1.2%. Total unitized cargo amounted to 5.3 million tonnes (+2.5%).
Imports and exports of unitized cargo remained balanced: imports amounted to 2.3 million tonnes (+1.8%) and exports to 3.0 million tonnes (+3.1%).
“Now that Finland’s economy is finally starting to recover, we are also seeing increased unitized cargo traffic. We hope, of course, that the challenges facing global maritime transport are behind us, for now, and that traffic can operate under normal conditions of demand, supply and the market, without disruptions,” said Vesa Marttinen, Vice President of Cargo at the Port of Helsinki.
The main unitized cargo routes from Helsinki connect with partner ports in Estonia, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. The Port of Helsinki drives Finland’s international trade and serves as a transit point for both foreign food and essential goods as well as exported forest products, machinery and equipment.
By the end of May, Helsinki had recorded 17 international cruise ship calls carrying 44,000 tourists (+31.9%). The upcoming season is expected to be very busy. After a several-year pause, Helsinki will also receive 15 cruise ships that will transship all their passengers in the city, extending their stay.
