More cargo than ever before
In 2022, a total of 15.2 million tonnes of goods were transported via the Port of Helsinki group. This surpassed the previous record from 2018 (14.7 Mt) by a clear margin, and the volume grew more than the market at large.
The significant growth in cargo traffic continued until late August, after which it slowed down and the Port of Helsinki ended up at slightly lower rates than the previous year. Despite the uncertain operating environment, the traffic volume grew more than the market at large.
The Port of Helsinki Group’s total cargo traffic was 15.2 million tonnes, which is 5.6% more than the previous year. Of the total cargo traffic, 7.7 million tonnes were export (+ 0.9%), and 7.4 million tonnes were import (+ 11.7%). The main export commodities are forest industry products, machinery and equipment in Finland’s foreign trade, whereas the main import commodities are daily consumer goods.
Most of the goods transported via the Port of Helsinki are unitized cargo, i.e. cargo transported in trucks, trailers and containers. In 2022, the amount of unitized cargo was 12.6 million tonnes (+ 3.8%) in total. Of this, a total of 6.7 million tonnes were exports and 5.9 million tonnes imports.
A total of 700,000 lorries and trailers transported 8.8 million tonnes (+ 5.1%) of goods. The percentage of rubber-wheeled traffic accounted for of the unitized cargo transported via the Port of Helsinki was 70%.
A total of 492,000 TEUs (+ 5.4%) of containers were transported; the amount of container cargo in tonnes was 3.8 million. Container traffic accounted for 30% of unitized cargo traffic.
Cargo traffic
| Tonnes | 2 020 | 2 021 | 2 022 | Change% 22/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitized cargo | 11 113 000 | 12 141 000 | 12 605 000 | +3.8% |
| Import | 5 201 000 | 5 522 000 | 5 906 000 | +6.9% |
| Export | 5 912 000 | 6 619 000 | 6 699 000 | +1.2% |
| Bulk traffic | 1 371 000 | 1 376 000 | 1 558 000 | +13.2% |
| Break Bulk | 683 000 | 719 000 | 879 000 | +22.3% |
| Foreign traffic | 13 245 000 | 14 243 000 | 15 090 000 | +5.9% |
| Coastal traffic | 63 000 | 130 000 | 91 000 | -29.8% |
| TOTAL CARGO TRAFFIC | 13 307 000 | 14 373 000 | 15 181 000 | +5.6% |
| Containers, TEU | 509 000 | 467 000 | 492 000 | +5.4% |
| Containers, ton | 3 862 000 | 3 768 000 | 3 806 000 | +1.0% |
| Trucks, trailers and other, pcs | 598 000 | 664 000 | 702 000 | +5.7% |
| Trucks, trailers and other, ton | 7 252 000 | 8 377 000 | 8 806 000 | +5.1% |
* TEU = twenty-foot equivalent unit
Unitized cargo traffic 2022, TOP 3 Partner countries
| Million tonnes | |
|---|---|
| Estonia | 5.8 |
| Germany | 3.6 |
| The Netherlands | 1.1 |
Traffic in Vuosaari harbour
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Containers, TEU | 507 000 | 467 000 | 492 000 |
| Trailers and trucks | 261 000 | 467 000 | 281 000 |
| Ship calls | 2 395 | 2 543 | 2 234 |
| Passengers | 2 395 | 231 000 | 310 000 |
Bulk and breakbulk traffic
The Port of Helsinki Group’s bulk product traffic totalled 1.6 million tonnes (+ 13%), consisting mainly of coal imports (0.8 Mt), raw minerals, cement, grain, etc.
The Group’s breakbulk traffic totalled 879,000 tonnes (+ 22%), most of which came from pulp exports.
Port of Loviisa
The main traffic flows in the Port of Helsinki’s subsidiary Port of Loviisa consisted of goods from the construction industry, the mechanical forest industry and various circular economy and bioenergy industries.
The business environment was challenging due to changes in logistics caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. EU sanctions against Russia stopped transit flows in the spring (- 94.7%). Similarly, the transfer of Saimaa Canal traffic to seaports also directed the cargo flows through the Port of Loviisa.
The total cargo traffic through the Port of Loviisa was 686,000 tonnes, which was 3.7% less than the previous year (712,000 tonnes). The Port’s traffic consisted of foreign goods traffic, domestic coastal traffic and terminal traffic. In foreign trade, import volumes developed in a particularly positive direction (+ 58.3%).
Kantvik
Traffic at the Port of Helsinki’s Kantvik south quay in Kirkkonummi totalled 160,000 tonnes. This is a decrease of 20% compared to the previous year.
Kantvik Harbour serves nearby industry, and the goods transported through the harbour are mostly raw materials, such as raw minerals.