Cargo throughput at the Finland’s Port of Oulu for the past ten months of 2012 increased by 0.2% year-over-year, to 2,99 million tons, the Port Authority said.
In January-October, handling of exports increased by 11% to 1,215,000 tons. Shipments of paper rose 11.8% to 728,478 tons, lumber exports soared by 71% 133,259 tons, liquid chemicals volume was up 1.4% to 127,390 tons.
The nine-month volume of imports grew 1.2%. The inbound cargoes included carbonates - 560,043 tons and cellulose – 265,061 tons.
Containerized imports / exports jumped by 40.8% to 36,390 TEUs. Handling of specialized SECU containers (Stora-Enso Container Unit) declined by 22.5% to 10,159 SECUs.
The Port of Oulu (Oulun Satama) is one of the leading ports of Finland for forest industry products and unitized cargo on the Gulf of Bothnia. The harbors in Oritkari, Nuottasaari, Vihreäsaari and Toppila have 500 - 600 ship calls each year. The port specializes in handling exported paper, timber, imported petroleum products and raw materials for the local timber industry. In 2011, cargo throughput at the Port of Oulu soared to its record high ever, 3,567,202 tons.