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Published: 10 June 2021

Transport in domestic waterborne traffic decreased in 2020

The total volume of goods transported in domestic waterborne traffic was 7.5 million tonnes in 2020. This covers both shipborne goods transport and timber floating. Transport declined by 29 per cent compared to 2019. The most transported goods were oil products, raw minerals and cement as well as timber. In absolute numbers, the biggest growth was recorded in the transport of general cargo and fertilisers. Ninety-five per cent of the goods were transported on board ships and the remainder consisted of timber floating. In addition to goods, 2.9 million passengers were transported in domestic waterborne traffic in 2020, of which 0.2 million in inland waterways and 2.7 million in coastal areas.

Volume of shipborne goods transport and floated goods in domestic waterborne traffic in 1980 to 2020

Shipborne goods transport

In 2020, the total volume of shipborne goods transport was 7.1 million tonnes. The total volume of goods transported returned to the level of previous years after the exceptionally lively year 2019, the fall being mainly explained by decreased transport of metals and metal products. Ninety-three per cent of the total was transported in coastal areas. The transport is coastal transport if the port of departure or destination is situated on the coast. As in previous years, oil products were transported most, 3,5 million tonnes. The second most transported were crude minerals and cement as well as timber. However, the transport volume of both these types of goods decreased compared to 2019.

Table 1. Volume of shipborne goods transport in domestic waterborne traffic by type of goods in 2018 to 2020

Commodity group	Year
	2018	2019	2020
Total	7,265,619	10,148,201	7,096,948
Timber	698,109	724,393	685,802
Sawn wood	4,071	4,259	7,727
Wood pulp	919	2,491	2,398
Paper	17,790	17,964	18,020
Plywood and veneers	1,733	3,645	1,520
Ores and concentrates	132,720	103,162	99,166
Metals and metal manufactures	694,226	2,346,376	10,821
Oil products	3,488,766	3,487,898	3,458,156
Coal and coke	368,460	209,126	37,836
Fertilizers	162,148	152,097	183,169
Chemicals	66,316	138,537	105,904
Crude minerals and cement	1,469,484	2,799,477	2,288,650
Cereals	1,980	7,136	8,048
General cargo	156,197	149,835	182,863
Other merchandise	2,700	1,805	6,868

The transport performance of domestic shipborne traffic was 2.6 billion tonne-kilometres and it decreased by 0.5 billion tonne-kilometres from the year before. Ninety-six per cent of the transport performance came from shipborne traffic and 95 per cent from coastal traffic.

Timber floating and shipborne transport

In domestic waterborne traffic, timber was transported both by floating and by ship. A total of 1.05 million tonnes of timber were transported. A total of 0.36 million tonnes were floated and 0.69 million tonnes were transported by ship. The transport of timber decreased by four per cent compared with 2019. In 2020, timber was floated only in the Vuoksi river basin.

Table 2. Transport of timber in 2018 to 2020

Transport type	Year
	2018	2019	2020
Timber-floating	330,000	372,011	363,221
Shipborne transport	698,109	724,393	685,802
Transported volumes of timber	1,028,109	1,096,404	1,049,023

Goods transport between Åland and Mainland Finland

A total of 312,134 tonnes of goods were transported between Mainland Finland and Åland. A total of 124,416 tonnes of goods were imported to Åland and 187,718 tonnes of goods were exported from there. In total, goods transport between Mainland Finland and the Åland Islands decreased by 38,890 tonnes compared with the previous year, which is explained by decreased transport of all types of goods apart from exports of general cargo. General cargo, 85,781 tonnes, and oil products, 27,951 tonnes, were imported most to the Åland Islands. Most exports from Åland consisted of timber, 120,858 tonnes, and general cargo, 58,249 tonnes.

Table 3. Goods transport between Åland and Mainland Finland in 2018 to 2020

Direction and commodity group		Year
		2018	2019	2020
Import	Timber	-	-	-
	Oil products	35,656	31,538	27,951
	General cargo	84,603	87,499	85,781
	Other merchandise	23,893	18,247	10,684
	Import total	144,152	137,284	124,416
Export	Timber	12,878	157,175	120,858
	Oil products	151	177	24
	General cargo	62,197	52,576	58,249
	Other merchandise	6,733	13,554	8,587
	Export total	81,959	223,482	187,718

Volume of transport through the Saimaa Canal

A total of 86,179 tonnes of goods were registered in domestic traffic through the Saimaa Canal in 2020. Raw minerals and cement, 66,214 tonnes, and hard coal and coke, 11,216 tonnes, were transported most. Compared with 2019, transport increased by 18 per cent. Raw minerals and cement, 49,962 tonnes, and hard coal and coke, 20,826 tonnes, were transported most in 2019 as well.

Passenger transport

Altogether 2.9 million passengers were transported in domestic waterborne traffic in 2020. Of the passengers, 2.7 million travelled in coastal areas and 0.2 million in inland waterways. The traffic recorded in the statistics includes both cruises and liner and ferry traffic. The number of passengers was highest in the area of the Gulf of Finland, 1.7 million, and also the passenger traffic performance was highest in the area of the Gulf of Finland, 87 million passenger-kilometres. As a result of the prevailing pandemic, the number of passengers fell drastically especially in coastal areas, by 41 per cent, while the drop was more moderate in inland waterways and the passenger volume fell by 19 per cent compared with 2019. The total number of passengers decreased by 40 per cent from 2019.

Table 4. Passengers in domestic waterborne traffic in 2018 to 2020

Water basin	Year
	2018	2019	2020
Coasting and in inland waterways in total	4,616,156	4,754,780	2,872,142
Coasting in total	4,382,248	4,523,960	2,685,494
Gulf of Finland	3,044,188	3,197,655	1,697,448
Archipelago Sea	261,406	231,820	219,668
Traffic between the mainland and Åland	663,392	667,995	373,763
Åland	395,325	395,983	371,303
Sea of Bothnia	3,953	..	8,143
Bay of Bothnia	20,645	26,407	15,169
Inland waterways in total	233,908	230,820	186,648
Vuoksi watercourse	103,127	110,965	109,787
Kymi River watercourse	32,413	29,372	13,136
Kokemäki River watercourse	70,303	..	..
Ostrobothnias area	2,305	..	..
Oulu river and northern Finland	25,760	15,369	13,850

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1) .. = Data is subject to secrecy

Source: Transport and Tourism, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Matti Kokkonen 029 551 3770, Olli Kajava 029 551 3531, matti.kokkonen@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Updated 10.06.2021