Foreign sea transport decreased in September
Maritime transport continued to suffer this fall from the effects of the covid-19 pandemic.
The goods volume of foreign sea transport was in total 8.2 million tonnes in September 2020. Sea transport decreased by 3% from last year's September. The year-on-year drop is, however, less than that registered in August.
According to Statistics Finland's figures, in September maritime exports decreased by 1% and were 4.2 million tonnes. Import volume decreased by 5% and amounted to 3.9 million tonnes.
General cargo was transported most, in total 1.5 million tonnes, which is 18% of all transport. The second most transported was crude oil, 1.2 million tonnes, and oil products, 1.2 million tonnes.
Container transport
A total of 1 million tonnes of containers were transported through Finnish ports in September 2020, which is 5% less than in September 2019.
The number of containers transported was 72,363 (128,306 TEU containers).
TEU, the basic measurement unit of container traffic, refers to one container that is 20 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet high.
Exports of containers went down by 5% measured in tonnes and imports went down by 5% compared to September 2019.
Vehicle transport
A total of 223,438 transport equipment were transported in foreign sea traffic in September 2020.
Most transports of transport equipment were cars belonging to passengers.
In September, 125,207 passenger cars were transported. The second most transported were trucks, 58,093 and truck trailers, 37,173.
Passenger traffic
A total of 492,917 people were transported in passenger traffic in September 2020. In all, 316,316 people traveled between Finland and Estonia and 151,957 between Finland and Sweden.
Altogether, 17,480 passengers were transported between Finland and Latvia and 7,164 passengers between Finland and Germany. Passengers made up only 33% of the number of passengers in September 2019.
In September 2020, no passengers of foreign cruise ships arrived in Finland.
Saimaa Canal
A total of 148,811 tons of transport were registered through the canal in foreign traffic.
Timber was transported most in vessels in foreign traffic, in total 55,045 tonnes. The second most transported was crude minerals and cement.