Unitized cargo traffic busy despite COVID-19
The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cargo traffic were smaller than initially estimated. In the last months of the year, cargo volumes climbed back to the previous year’s level.
At the start of the year, cargo traffic volumes were affected by labour market measures in the forest industry, among other things. In March and April, the effects of COVID-19 also began to show and the situation progressed rapidly. For example, shipping companies that combine passenger and rubber-wheeled traffic evaluated their operations, and some of the ships remained in port when traffic to Stockholm, for example, was suspended.
Despite everything, cargo traffic in Vuosaari Harbour and the harbours at the centre of Helsinki continued throughout the year, even during the exceptional circumstances.
In 2020, cargo traffic in the ports of Helsinki totalled 13.3 million tonnes. This is 8.5% less than the previous year.
The three largest trade partners in terms of tonnes were the same as the previous year: Estonia (4.8 Mt), Germany (2.9 Mt) and The Netherlands (1.6 Mt).
Cargo traffic
| Tonnes | 2 018 | 2 019 | 2020 | Change% 20/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitized cargo | 11 667 877 | 11 721 284 | 11 106 004 | -5,9 % |
| Import | 5 452 455 | 5 421 709 | 5 200 255 | -5,4 % |
| Export | 6 215 422 | 6 299 575 | 5 905 750 | -6,4 % |
| Bulk traffic | 1 980 084 | 1 717 363 | 1 370 875 | -20,8 % |
| Break bulk | 889 725 | 772 389 | 682 854 | -12,1 % |
| Foreign traffic | 14 531 163 | 14 270 269 | 13 237 248 | -7,9 % |
| Coastal traffic | 180 309 | 149 124 | 62 949 | -60,1 % |
| TOTAL CARGO TRAFFIC | 14 711 472 | 14 419 393 | 13 300 197 | -8,5 % |
| Containers, TEU | 510 000 | 530 000 | 507 346 | -5,0 % |
| Trucks, trailers and other, pcs | 603 000 | 601 000 | 593 734 | 0,8 % |
Unitized cargo held up
Most of the goods transported via the Port of Helsinki are unitized cargo for Finland’s foreign trade, i.e. cargo transported in trucks, trailers and containers.
In 2020, a total of 11.1 million tonnes (-5.9%) of it was transported via the Port of Helsinki. Of the total unitized cargo traffic, 5.2 million tonnes was in import (-5.4%), and 5.9 million tonnes in export (-6.4%).
Unitized cargo traffic 2020, TOP 3 Countries
| Million tonnes | |
|---|---|
| Estonia | 4.80 |
| Germany | 2.90 |
| The Netherlands | 1.60 |
Container traffic accounted for 35% of unitized cargo traffic. The volume of container traffic was 507,000 TEU* (-5%).
As for lorries and trailers, 598 000 units (-0.5%) travelled via the Port of Helsinki, which equals 7.3 million tonnes of cargo (-4.7%). The percentage lorries and trailers accounted for of the unitized cargo transported via the Port of Helsinki was 65%.
The volume of unitized cargo traffic headed for Tallinn increased by 6% from the previous year and was 4.8 million tonnes. Traffic on the Stockholm route, on the other hand, was at a complete standstill from March onwards.
* TEU = twenty-foot equivalent unit
Traffic in Vuosaari harbour
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Containers, TEU | 510 000 | 532 900 | 507 300 |
| Trailers and trucks | 224 000 | 235 000 | 261 346 |
| Ship visits | 2 100 | 2 354 | 2 395 |
| Passengers | 187 000 | 271 000 | 202 859 |
Bulk product traffic saw a decrease in coal shipments
The bulk product traffic at the Port of Helsinki mainly consists of coal imports and pulp exports.
The volume of bulk product traffic at the Port of Helsinki in 2020 was 985,000 tonnes (-16.0%). For the Group as a whole, bulk product traffic decreased to 1.8 million tonnes (-15.6%) during the period.
Coal is imported as dry bulk for Helen Oy via the Port. Approximately 598,000 tonnes of coal was transported as dry bulk through the ports of Helsinki, which is 27% less than the previous year. The decrease is explained by the fact that Helen Oy is building a new bioenergy heating plant in Vuosaari and transporting coal from the Vuosaari stockpile to Hanasaari.
The total volume of break bulk was 683,000 tonnes, which is 12.1% less than the previous year.
Port of Loviisa
The main exports of the Port of Loviisa, a subsidiary of the Port of Helsinki, are anthracite and grain.
The total cargo traffic through the Port of Loviisa was 781,000 tonnes, which was 1.6% less than the previous year. Foreign cargo traffic totalled 701,000 tonnes, of which import was 180,000 tonnes (-3.1%) and export 521,000 tonnes (-7.4%). The volume of domestic cargo traffic was 80,000 tonnes (+71.5%).
Kantvik
Traffic at the Kantvik south quay belonging to the Port of Helsinki decreased by 40.7% in 2020 and totalled 138,000 tonnes.
Kantvik Harbour serves nearby industry, and the goods passing through the harbour are mostly raw materials. A total of 98% of the traffic was import.