Economic upsving already visible in the port – After slow start to the year, traffic picked up clearly during summer months
“The good situation of the forest industry, in particular, is reflected in the traffic volumes of the port”, says Managing Director Hannu Asumalahti from Port of Rauma Ltd. “The projections issued by our customers at the end of last year have been clearly exceeded as concerns pulp and sawn goods. Even paper exports are currently above last year’s level, after a long downward trend.
Total traffic in the port of Rauma by the end of June 2021 amounted to 2.6 million tons, which is about 4% less than the year before. The decrease in the traffic figures is fully attributable to declined domestic traffic, whereas international shipments show an increase of about 3%. During the first half of 2021, approximately 110 800 container units (TEU) were shipped via Rauma. This is a decrease of four percent compared with 2020. However, the amount of goods shipped in containers was only one percent less. Exports accounted for 1.75 million tons (+3.4%) of the port’s traffic, imports for 0.81 million tons (13.5%) and domestic traffic for 0.03 million tons (-85%). A total of 465 vessels called at the port, which was 12 less than in the first half of 2020. The average size of the ships was somewhat smaller, the total combined tonnage being 12% less than in the previous year.
“The investments in the port that started in Rauma in 2016 are continuing. The new field areas under construction in Petäjäs will be completed in the autumn of 2021. Asphalting works are postponed until summer 2022. Unfortunately, the proceedings regarding the permit issue related to the Western Quay in Petäjäs are still pending in the Administrative Court and the implementation schedule remains open.”
For more information, please contact Managing Director Hannu Asumalahti, tel. +358 50 3039700.