Aluminum exports from Finland to Russia surge to 22.3 million euros in September

Statistics reveal that the export of aluminum from Finland to Russia has surged dramatically in a short span. By the end of September this year, the export value reached 22.3 million euros, a significant increase from 11.3 million euros during the same period in 2023. Olli-Pekka Penttilä, head of the customs statistics department, noted that aluminum has become the most significant item in Finnish exports to Russia.

The growth in exports can mainly be attributed to an uptick in shipments of aluminum spikes used in various applications. These spikes are exported either directly by ship or routed through the Baltic region. Three major manufacturers in Finland—Tikka Spikes in Jyväskylä, and Scason and Turvanasta in Turku—are responsible for the production of these spikes. However, the CEOs of Tikka Spikes and Scason have confirmed that their companies do not export to Russia.

The substantial increase in aluminum exports is primarily linked to the heightened output from Turvanasta. The company’s CEO, Mikko Salakari, stated that they cannot dictate where their clients send their orders, emphasizing the customers’ right to choose the destination of their purchased goods. He previously acknowledged some exports to Russia but indicated that future contracts would include terms prohibiting such deliveries.

With regards to the moral implications of exporting to Russia, there are concerns about the potential use of these products in military applications. Finland has seen a rapid decline in the number of businesses engaged in trade with Russia since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. From 925 companies exporting to Russia in September 2021, that number plummeted to just 45 this year. Salakari reflected on the complexities of ceasing exports, suggesting that doing so might lead to more significant issues like job losses and tax revenue declines.