| Freight services in Finland are being transformed by | | | | development will virtually double the size of the |
| one single key economic driver - the growth in | | | | current Mussalo development at Kotka. As Kotka |
| freight transport demand from Russia. Despite the | | | | already accounts for over 40% market share of all |
| recent short term slowdown of the Russian | | | | freight forwarding in Finland, it is clear to see that this |
| economy, the underlying demand is positive and the | | | | will make Kotka a giant within the Finnish freight |
| freight services infrastructure in Finland is expected | | | | services infrastructure. |
| to continue to be boosted as the requirement for | | | | Another port in Finland whose fortunes are closely |
| freight transport increases over the medium and long | | | | tied to Russia is Hamina. Hamina is only 35 kilometres |
| term. Shipping companies and freight forwarders are | | | | from the Russian border. Its performance this year |
| therefore keeping a keen eye on developments in | | | | has been the worst of the four main Finnish ports - |
| Finland. | | | | Hamina, Helsinki, Kotka and Rauma. However, the |
| It is believed by the Finnish government and | | | | City of Hamina and the Finnish Government have just |
| independent analysts that there will be a long term | | | | approved a vital strategic plan that will help build |
| demand for a EU based port to handle Russia's | | | | Hamina's reputation as a leading Finnish port serving |
| freight transport and, in fact, this growth is now | | | | Russia. This is a large scale Ro-Ro and container |
| being seen at the container port of Kotka which has | | | | expansion project which will set it in good stead for |
| overtaken Helsinki to become Finland's largest | | | | the future and position Hamina at the forefront of |
| container port, with an estimated 650,000 TEU this | | | | international freight transport and freight forwarders. |
| year. This reflects a growth of 12% in freight | | | | There is currently only one stevedore operating at |
| transport through Kotka in the latest year. | | | | Hamina, a daughter company of the port authority |
| The international freight at Kotka is balanced | | | | who prefer to run their own service. However, there |
| between exports and imports and the container | | | | is every possibility that this will change in future as it |
| logistics are exemplary in relation to Russian freight | | | | seeks to advance its freight services to better serve |
| forwarding. Empty containers from Russia are back | | | | the evolving needs of the Russian marketplace. Many |
| loaded with paper products. This is in contrast to | | | | a shipping company and freight company is likely to |
| Helsinki which has import-led international freight. This | | | | look favourably at sending freight freight through |
| means empty containers have to be railed to Rauma | | | | Hamina in future years. |
| to be filled with paper products for export, incurring | | | | Another factor that will boost Hamina further is that |
| additional costs and making international freight | | | | the port is now linked to Antwerp. This will streamline |
| transport that much less competitive for the | | | | freight to Russia from Finland. Hamina offers all |
| customer. | | | | modes of transport to Russia, including regular block |
| There are four stevedoring companies active in | | | | trains, trucking and feeder services to St Petersburg. |
| Kotka, with Steveco the dominant stevedore and | | | | So although Hamina currently accounts for only 10% |
| the main stevedore operating within freight | | | | of all freight transport in Finland, it is predicted that its |
| forwarding of forestry products. | | | | star will rise in tandem with the underlying growth in |
| Kotka has completed a 150 hectare development for | | | | demand from Russia. The love affair between freight |
| a new logistics site at the Palaslahti area and this is | | | | forwarders in Finland and the blossoming Russian |
| part of a long term plan to see freight forwarding | | | | economy is set to go from strength to strength. |
| capacity increased fourfold by 2025. The new | | | | |