A total of 3.2 million tonnes of goods were transported through the Port of Helsinki from January to March, which is 8.9% lower than the amount of goods transported in stipulated period of the previous year, said the Helsinki Port in a press release on Monday.
Of the amount, 1.5 million tonnes were imports and 1.7 million tonnes were exports.
The imports reduced by 9.5% while the exports reduced by 9.3% compared to the January-March period of 2023.
Unitized cargo traffic amounted to 2.8 million tonnes, which was 4% lower than the amount handled in the same period of last year.
Political strikes nearly ground the container traffic through the Port of Helsinki to a halt for four weeks this spring, leading industrial operators and traders to turn to lorries for goods transports.
At the Port of Helsinki, this resulted in Vuosaari Harbour quieting down and heavy traffic increasing in West Harbour, in particular.
The strikes, however, did not affect passenger traffic, and the numbers of passengers increased slightly compared to the first quarter of the previous year.
“The start of the year was positive in cargo traffic, but the political strikes in February and March hit cargo transports through the Port of Helsinki hard. Lorry transports ran smoothly, but all other kinds of cargo traffic were nearly at a standstill. Some transport related to security of supply, however, was excluded from the strikes,” said Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Helsinki Ville Haapasaari.
”These exceptionally long strikes will without a doubt have a visible negative impact on our bottom line. At the same time, we are concerned about the impact of the strikes on the much anticipated positive turn in the Finnish economy,” Haapasaari added.
Meanwhile, a total of 1.7 million passengers travelled in scheduled passenger traffic from January to March, which is 4.7% more than in the corresponding period of the previous year.
As usual, the route between Helsinki and Tallinn was the busiest. A total of 1.4 million passengers (+5.5%) travelled on the route.
”MS Cinderella returning as the second vessel on the Viking Line Stockholm route is a positive thing, giving encouraging signals for the coming year in passenger traffic,” Haapasaari added.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
It’s concerning to see such a steep decline in cargo handling at Helsinki Port. The impact of the political strikes is evident, affecting both imports and exports. Let’s hope for a smoother Q2.
It’s concerning to see a significant dip in cargo handling at Helsinki Port in Q1. The impact of political strikes on cargo transportation is evident, and it’s crucial to address these challenges for smoother operations in the future.
It’s unfortunate to see the significant dip in cargo handling at Helsinki Port. The political strikes surely had a major impact on the flow of goods through the port. Let’s hope for a smoother period ahead with increased efficiency and stability in operations.
Is there any information on how the political strikes impacted specific types of imports and exports through the Port of Helsinki?
Hi EmilySmith22, the political strikes in February and March had a significant impact on both imports and exports through the Port of Helsinki. Specifically, imports were delayed and reduced due to the disruptions in cargo traffic, resulting in backlogs and slower processing times. As for exports, the strikes led to shipment delays and decreased volumes going out of the port. Overall, the political strikes greatly affected the efficiency and smooth operation of import and export activities at the Port of Helsinki during that period.
The decrease in cargo handling at the Port of Helsinki is concerning. It’s important for the port authorities to address the issues causing the decline and work towards improving efficiency to prevent further losses in the future.
What measures are being taken to prevent such political disruptions in cargo handling in the future?
It is crucial that authorities and industry stakeholders work together to establish contingency plans and protocols to mitigate the impact of political strikes on cargo handling in the future. Ensuring clear communication channels and implementing alternative transportation methods can help maintain stability in the supply chain during such disruptions.
It’s concerning to see such a significant drop in cargo handling through the Port of Helsinki. The impact of the political strikes on container traffic is clear, affecting both imports and exports. Hopefully, measures will be taken to prevent such disruptions in the future.
Does the article mention any specific reasons behind the reduction in cargo handling at Helsinki Port during Q1?
Yes, the article mentions that political strikes played a significant role in the reduction of cargo handling at Helsinki Port during Q1. These strikes affected container traffic, leading to industrial operators and traders using lorries for goods transports instead.
It’s concerning to see such a significant drop in cargo handling at the Helsinki Port. Hopefully, measures will be taken to prevent similar disruptions in the future.