Cargo traffic through the ports of Helsinki is brisk and exports are particularly strong at the end of the third quarter. On the other hand, despite the easing of travel restrictions and the increase in coronary vaccination coverage, ship travel has not picked up as expected.
Exports swing
In January – September, the total volume of goods passing through the Port of Helsinki was 10.6 million tonnes (+ 7.9%).
– At the end of the year, record levels will be alarmed if this excellent pace of freight traffic continues, says Jukka Kallio , Director of Freight Business at the Port of Helsinki Ltd.
In foreign freight transport, imports amounted to 4.8 million tonnes (+ 4.4%). Exports amounted to 5.7 million tonnes, which was as much as 11.2% more than in the corresponding period of the previous year. For example, global demand for domestic forest industry products is strong.
The volume of unitized freight traffic * was EUR 9.0 million. tonnes (+ 9.3%). Container traffic was just over one per cent behind the corresponding period of the previous year. The volume of freight transported in trucks, lorries and trailers, on the other hand, was up almost 15% on the previous year.
Global demand for containers currently exceeds their supply and container freight prices have risen significantly.
Passenger traffic is recovering slowly
In January-September, liner traffic ** in the Port of Helsinki carried only 2.3 million passengers, most of whom traveled on the route between Helsinki and Tallinn. The number of passengers decreased by 43.1% even from the previous year, which was weakened by the corona. However, sea travel has gradually started to recover from the consequences of the corona pandemic, albeit slowly. A significant increase in passenger traffic is expected next year.
Ship traffic between Helsinki and Stockholm, which had been at a complete standstill since the beginning of the travel restrictions, resumed in mid-June. International cruise traffic in Helsinki was launched in the first week of August, when the first cruise ship was delivered to the city since 2019.
With the abolition of internal border controls in the Schengen area on 26 July, travel conditions improved, especially within the EU.
The result is becoming unprofitable
The consequences of the pandemic for travel still have a strong negative effect on the financial situation of the Port of Helsinki Ltd. The company’s January-September net sales were EUR 49 million, which is EUR 3.5 million (-7%) lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Net sales for 2021 are estimated at EUR 67.8 million (2020: 67.2), and the result is likely to be a loss for the second year in a row.
However, the company’s financial position is strong and the port is well equipped to serve passenger traffic, which is also picking up towards the Christmas season.