Freight traffic via the Saimaa Canal grew by 9.8% year-on-year during January-July 2021 making 636.6 thousand tons.
According to the Statistics Finland, 545 vessel transited the Canal during the period under report, up 6.7% year-on-year. 295 of them, 54.1% of the total and down 5.8% year-on-year, were flying the Russian flag.
The main commodity transported was timber and logs, which grew by 10.9% up to 291.9 thousand tons. Sawn goods were up 3.5-fold to 41.3 thousand tons.
Construction cargo increased by 4.6% up to 149.8 thousand tons, fertilizers by 4.3% up to 56.3 thousand tons, and coal by 30.4% up to 11.6 thousand tons.
Paper transportation declined by 14.5%, pulp by 28.4%, and chemicals by 49.8%.