A new rail connection between Haparanda and the Port of Gothenburg, launching on 5 November, will create new opportunities for Finnish and northern Swedish industry to consolidate cargo in Haparanda for onward transport to global markets. For cargo travelling from Oulu to Asia, the solution is expected to reduce transit time by eight days compared with traditional transport solutions.
Haparanda's strategic location on the Swedish-Finnish border provides favourable conditions for consolidating cargo from both countries. The ambition is to develop Haparanda into a cross-border logistics hub, with a direct rail connection to the Port of Gothenburg and onward connections to global markets.
Through APM Terminals Gothenburg, the new rail connection links into international shipping services, including direct connections to Asia.
"We see significant potential for Haparanda to develop into a cross-border inland hub between Finland and Sweden. This initiative is a strong example of how we want to connect the Nordic region with Gothenburg by rail and develop new logistics solutions where there is demand. In doing so, we create more opportunities for Nordic industry to reach global markets efficiently and competitively through our extensive shipping network," says Mathias Weismann Poulsen, Head of Commercial at APM Terminals Gothenburg.
New opportunities for industry in the north
The new rail connection enables larger volumes of cargo to be transported by rail, making better use of Sweden's existing railway infrastructure. For industries in northern Sweden and Finland, it provides increased capacity and a reliable year-round transport solution, including during the winter months when ice conditions in the Gulf of Bothnia can affect shipping.
"We want to demonstrate how existing infrastructure can be used to create an entirely new, sustainable export corridor. This is a first step towards establishing a strategic green export corridor between the Gulf of Bothnia and Sweden's west coast," says Roger Danell, Municipal Director of the City of Haparanda.
