Sea transport decreased by 18 per cent in February 2023

Release related to topics:Transport and tourism
release | Foreign shipping traffic 2023, February

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, the goods volume of foreign sea transport was in total 5.8 million tonnes in February 2023. Sea transport decreased by 18 per cent from February 2022. Exports decreased by 26 per cent and were 2.6 million tonnes. Import volume decreased by 12 per cent and were 3.2 million tonnes. Altogether 0.8 million persons were transported in passenger traffic, which was 73 per cent of the level before the corona pandemic.

Key selections

  • The volume of foreign shipping traffic totalled 5.8 million tonnes in February 2023.
  • The volume of foreign shipping traffic decreased by 18 per cent year-on-year. Labour disputes decreased transport volumes in February.
  • In February, there were 42 per cent fewer containers transported than one year before. Sea transport by transport equipment decreased by 19 per cent, of which the volume of transport by trailers went down by 49 per cent measured in tonnes.
  • Altogether 0.8 million persons were transported in passenger traffic, which was 73 per cent of the level before the coronavirus pandemic.
  • No transport was registered through the Saimaa Canal in February.

General goods were transported most in foreign sea traffic in February

In February, the majority of sea transports were transports of general cargo. A total of 1.1 million tonnes of general cargo were transported. Imports of general cargo amounted to 0.5 million tonnes and exports to 0.5 million tonnes. The next most transported goods were crude oil, 0.8 million tonnes, and oil products, 0.8 million tonnes.

The most import-dominated types of goods were crude oil, ores and concentrates, timber and crude minerals and cement. The most export-dominated type of goods were sawn timber, fertilizers, wood pulp, paper and plywood and veneers.

Measured by volume of goods transported, the largest ports were, in order, Sköldvik, Helsinki, HaminaKotka, Raahe and Rauma.

A total of 1.6 million tonnes, or 28 per cent of all sea transports, were transported in containers and transport units. Altogether 1.1 million tonnes of goods were transported in transport units and 0.5 million tonnes in containers.

Of the goods transported in transport units, 0.8 million tonnes were transported in lorries and 0.3 million tonnes in trailers. In addition to the transport units used for goods transport, 114,841 passengers’ cars and 1,061 buses and coaches were transported.

A total of 33,527 containers were transported, which corresponds to 60,390 TEU units.

In February, there were 42 per cent fewer containers transported than one year before. Sea transport by transport equipment decreased by 19 per cent, of which the volume of transport by trailers went down by 49 per cent measured in tonnes.

A total of 0.8 million persons were transported in passenger traffic

A total of 0.8 million persons were transported in passenger traffic in February 2023. In all, 446,576 passengers travelled between Finland and Estonia, 360,153 passengers between Finland and Sweden and 12,806 passengers between Finland and Germany. Compared with February 2022, the number of passengers increased by 65 per cent. Compared with February 2019 the number of passengers was, however, just 73 per cent. In February 2023, no passengers of foreign cruise ships arrived in Finland.

Tables

See key statistical data in the tables.

Foreign sea transport by port and commodity group, 2023M02

Database tables

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Updated database tables
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  • Port
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  • Direction
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  • Port
  • Transport equipment
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  • Port
  • Direction
  • Traffic type
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  • Country
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  • Country
  • Direction
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  • Port
  • Transport equipment
  • Direction
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  • Country
  • Commodity group
  • Direction
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Classifications used:
  • Country
  • Commodity group
  • Direction
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  • Port
Reference period cycle:
year
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  • Port
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Classifications used:
  • Commodity group
  • Traffic type
  • Direction
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month
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Classifications used:
  • Port
  • Country
  • Direction
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year
Updating frequency:
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Updated:
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  • Port
  • Country
  • Direction
Reference period cycle:
month
Updating frequency:
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  • Direction
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year
Updating frequency:
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Updated:
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Future releases

Documentation

Description of the production, used methods and quality of the statistics.

Go to documentation of the statistics

Referencing instructions

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Foreign shipping traffic [online publication].
Reference period: 2023, February. ISSN=2670-2002. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [Referenced: 29.4.2025].
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Statistical experts

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Henna Ylimaa
Senior Statistician
029 551 3832

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Hannele Orjala
Head of Department in charge
029 551 3582