Freight potential study on eastern Finland – Estonia transport corridor published

​The study analysed the freight potential between Eastern Finland and Eastern Estonia. The specific focus was on the trucks and semi-trailers, which could be transported with the anticipated ferry line between the port of Loviisa in Finland and port of Kunda in Estonia. The study results are based on both statistical analysis, surveys and interviews to transportation companies, forwarders and cargo owners. The potential of Estonian commuter traffic for the ferry connection was analysed as additional element to support the viability of the foreseen ferry line.

The major potential of the connection lies in the Finnish foreign trade which transits the Baltic states. The major component is the export whose value in Eastern Finland is ¼ of all Finnish export. The import potential is remarkably smaller as well as the volumes of foreign trade of eastern Estonia.

The average growth in numbers of roro units has been on average 7% over the ten last years. The logistics industry expects the growth to continue in the near future although at slower pace. Several factors point to still growing trucking volumes on Via Baltica which means also more roro cargo on Gulf of Finland. The industry is fairly content with the current roro services but the congestion is seen as a significant challenge in the two capital cities. The possible policy decisions for steering heavy traffic from the city centres can provide opportunities for alternative roro routes like Loviisa-Kunda. Specializing into niche cargoes (hazardous goods, oversize cargo etc.) in the market where the overall volumes are growing is also seen as a possibility for a new ferry service. The Estonian commuters in the corridor area can be considered as an important user group of the foreseen Loviisa-Kunda connection.

Based on the estimations of the current cargo potential and the positive expectations for the roro market over the Gulf of Finland, and including the possible policy changes affecting the cargo routing, the Loviisa-Kunda ferry connection can be considered as a future alternative for Finland-Estonia roro transports.

Link to the study here.