Importance of cargo traffic transported via the Port of Helsinki to Finland confirmed

In 2021, a total of 14.4 million tonnes of goods (+8% compared to 2020) were transported via the Port of Helsinki, and unitized* cargo traffic reached an all-time high. The exceptional circumstances only served to confirm the importance of cargo traffic transported via the Port of Helsinki to Finland. In passenger traffic operations, the impact of the pandemic was even more evident compared to the previous year in the decrease in passengers.

Passenger traffic was slow

In the second year of the pandemic, Finland continued imposing strict travel restrictions. Internal border control in the EU’s Schengen area ended on 25 July 2021 but was restarted on 28 December.

In this long-standing difficult situation, the Port of Helsinki continued its efforts to make travel as safe as possible in close cooperation with shipping companies, authorities and other interest groups.

In 2021, the total number of passengers to pass through the Port of Helsinki was 3,749,000. Liner traffic*** carried 3.7 million passengers, which was clearly less than the number of passengers recorded during the first year of the pandemic, decreasing by 21.4%.

As usual, the majority of the passengers, 3.2 million (-23%), travelled the route between Helsinki and Tallinn.

The number of passengers travelling between Helsinki and Stockholm was 399,000 (+6.1%), as vessels were unable to start operating between the capitals of Finland and Sweden until the summer.

The Helsinki–Travemünde route saw 102,000 passengers (+20.7%). There was no traffic at all on the route between Helsinki and St. Petersburg in 2020 and 2021.

Liner traffic	2019	2020	2021	Change in % 21/20
Stockholm	2,262,000	376,000	399,000	+6.1%
Tallinn	8,925,000	4,097,000	3,150,000	-23.1%
St. Petersburg	196,000	-	-	-
Travemünde	158,000	84,000	102,000	+21.4%
Mariehamn	48,000	50,000	72,000	+42.8%
Others	24,000	149,000	16,000	-89.5%
TOTAL	11,614,000	4,757,000	3,738,000	-21.4%

The international cruise traffic season was only able to start at the beginning of August, when restrictions on entry were lightened. Almost 11,000 passengers had the chance to visit Helsinki and the metropolitan area during 14 port calls.

Traffic in 2022

The positive trend in cargo traffic is expected to continue in 2022. As for passenger traffic, the first part of the year is expected to remain slow due to the ongoing pandemic, but traffic is expected to pick up again closer to the summer.

* unitized cargo = goods transported in large units, such as containers, lorries and trailers.
** TEU = twenty-foot equivalent unit.
*** liner traffic = regular ship traffic that operates according to a schedule, e.g. ferries operating between Tallinn and Helsinki.

Jan 20 2022