Goods transport in domestic waterborne traffic decreased by 30 per cent in 2021

Goods transport by vessels continued to decrease in 2021 as well

In 2021, the total volume of goods transported in domestic waterborne traffic was 5.2 tonnes. The total volume of goods transported returned to the level of previous years after the exceptionally lively years 2018 to 2020, the fall being mainly explained by decreased transport of raw minerals and cement. The biggest growth was seen in the transport of hard coal and coke and ore and concentrates. As in previous years, oil products were transported most, in total 2,6 million tonnes. The next most transported goods were timber and crude minerals and cement. However, the transport volumes of oil products and crude minerals and cement fell clearly compared with 2020, while the transport volumes of timber increased slightly.

Volume of shipborne goods transport in domestic waterborne traffic by type of goods in 2019 to 2021

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Ninety-three per cent of the goods were transported on board ships and the remainder consisted of timber floating. The transport performance of domestic waterborne traffic was 2.5 billion tonne-kilometres and it fell by 0.3 billion tonne-kilometres from the year before. Ninety-five per cent of the transport performance came from shipborne traffic and 88 per cent from coastal traffic. Ninety-two per cent of the total was transported in coastal areas. The transport is coastal transport if the port of departure or destination is situated on the coast. 

Timber floating grew slightly from the year before

In 2021, timber was transported both by floating and by ship in domestic waterborne traffic. A total of 1.13 million tonnes of timber were transported. A total of 0.39 million tonnes were floated and 0.74 million tonnes were transported by ship. The transport of timber grew by eight per cent compared with 2020. In 2021, timber was floated only in the Vuoksi river basin.

Goods transport between Åland and Mainland Finland

A total of 304,364 tonnes of goods were transported between Mainland Finland and Åland in 2021. A total of 137,522 tonnes of goods were imported to Åland and 166,842 tonnes of goods were exported from there. In total, goods transport between Mainland Finland and Åland decreased by two per cent compared with 2020. Transport of timber decreased most, by 22,907 tonnes and transport of general cargo increased most, by 18 per cent. General cargo, 106,640 tonnes, and oil products, 23,725 tonnes, were imported most to Åland. Most exports from Åland consisted of timber, 97,951 tonnes, and general cargo, 62,728 tonnes.

Volume of transport through the Saimaa Canal increased from one year ago

A total of 102,896 tonnes of goods were registered in domestic traffic through the Saimaa Canal in 2021. Compared with 2020, transport increased by 19 per cent. Raw minerals and cement, 73,858 tonnes, and hard coal and coke, 23,595 tonnes, were transported most. Compared with 2020, transport of raw minerals and cement increased by 12 per cent, and transport of coal and coke doubled.

Passenger traffic still fell short of pre-pandemic levels

Altogether 3.4 million passengers were transported in domestic waterborne traffic in 2021. Of the passengers, 3.2 million travelled in coastal areas and 0.2 in inland waterways. The traffic recorded in the statistics includes both cruises and liner and ferry traffic. The area of the Gulf of Finland had the largest number of passengers, 1.9 million, and the Gulf of Finland also had the most passenger kilometres, 84 million. The total number of passengers increased by 17 per cent from 2020, but compared with 2019 prior to the pandemic, the number of passengers was still 29 per cent lower. The number of passengers in coastal areas grew by 19 per cent from 2020, but in inland waterways the number of passengers was four per cent lower.