Sea transport increased by 6 per cent in March 2023

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

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, the goods volume of foreign sea transport was in total 8.3 million tonnes in March 2023. Sea transport increased by 6 per cent from March 2022. Exports increased by 11 per cent and were 4.3 million tonnes. Import volume increased by one per cent and were 4.0 million tonnes. Altogether 0.8 million persons were transported in passenger traffic, which was 68 per cent of the level before the corona pandemic.

Key selections

  • The volume of foreign shipping traffic totalled 8.3 million tonnes in March 2023.
  • The volume of foreign shipping traffic increased by 6 per cent year-on-year.
  • Altogether 1.5 million tonnes of goods were transported in transport units and 1.1 million tonnes in containers.
  • Altogether 0.8 million persons were transported in passenger traffic, which was 68 per cent of the level before the coronavirus pandemic.
  • No transport was registered through the Saimaa Canal in March.

General goods were transported most in foreign sea traffic in March

In March, the majority of sea transports were transports of general cargo. A total of 1.5 million tonnes of general cargo were transported. Imports of general cargo amounted to 0.8 million tonnes and exports to 0.7 million tonnes. The next most transported goods were oil products, 1.2 million tonnes, and crude oil, 0.9 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, plywood and veneers, paper and wood pulp.

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

A total of 2.6 million tonnes, or 31 per cent of all sea transports, were transported in containers and transport units. Altogether 1.5 million tonnes of goods were transported in transport units and 1.1 million tonnes in containers.

Of the goods transported in transport units, 0.9 million tonnes were transported in lorries and 0.6 million tonnes in trailers. In addition to the transport units used for goods transport, 125,724 passengers’ cars and 1,637 buses and coaches were transported.

A total of 72,697 containers were transported, which corresponds to 130,061 TEU units.

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 March 2023. In all, 437,483 passengers travelled between Finland and Estonia, 374,131 passengers between Finland and Sweden and 11,009 passengers between Finland and Germany. Compared with March 2022, the number of passengers increased by 18 per cent. Compared with March 2019 the number of passengers was, however, just 68 per cent. In March 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, 2023M03

Database tables

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