Container handling at Helsinki Port grows 11.8% in Q1

A total of 133,200 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of goods were transported in containers through the Port of Helsinki in the first quarter of this year, posting a year-on-year rise of 11.8 per cent.

In tonnes, the cargo volume was 1.1 million (+13.9%), said the port authorities in a press release.

Especially, the growth in export goods transported in containers has been spectacular (+26.1%). In part, this is probably due to Metsä Group starting their Äänekoski plant’s pulp export via Vuosaari Harbour in the autumn of 2017.

In the January-March period, 149,400 units of rubber-wheeled traffic passed through the port, posting an eight per cent rise year on year. In tonnes, the amount transported by heavy traffic was nearly 2.0 million (+7.1%).

The number of liner traffic passengers in Helsinki in January-March was 2.2 million. The rate was nearly as brisk as that in the same time last year (-0.7%).

“The small decrease in passenger traffic conforms to normal variations. The summer, on the other hand, is going to be busy; especially international cruise traffic appears to be breaking records,” said the Port of Helsinki CEO Ville Haapasaari.