Cargo handling at Helsinki Port slides by 4% in Q1

The cargo handling at the Port of Helsinki was reduced from January to March this year than the stipulated period of the previous year.

The figure, however, returned to last year’s level in February and March after the poor figures recorded at the beginning of the year, said an official press release.

A total of 3.6 million tonnes of cargo was transported via the Port of Helsinki from January to March, which was 3.9% lower compared to the same time last year.

Of this amount, 1.7 million tonnes was imported, which was 5.1% lower and 1.9 million tonnes was exported, which was 2.7% lower than the January to March 2018.

Unitised cargo, cargo transported in sea containers, trucks and trailers, are the main type of cargo transported via the Port of Helsinki.

The amount of goods transported in containers was 130,000 TEUs (Twenty Equivalent Units) , which was 2.1% less than the same time last year. In tonnes, this amount was 1.0 million, which was 2.3% less than the same time in previous year.

A total of 140,000 trucks, lorries and trailers passed through the Port of Helsinki between January and March and the number was also 3.3% lower than the number of January to March 2018.

Rubber-wheeled traffic transported 1.8 million tonnes of cargo, which was 5.2% lower..

The regular liner traffic in Helsinki had a total of 2.1 million passengers between January and March, which was 3.6% less than the same time last year.

Over 75% of all passengers passing through the port travel between Tallinn and Helsinki, so these figures reflect the decrease in the popularity of the Tallinn route in particular.

The number of passengers decreased by 4.3% compared to the same time last year.