Russian fertilizer rail shipments to end, cutting Hamina-Kotka port traffic by nearly a fifth

The Hamina-Kotka port will lose nearly a fifth of its traffic after Russia’s eightfold increase in rail tariffs made fertilizer imports unprofitable, Finnish broadcaster Yle reports.

Fertilog, which stored and shipped mineral fertilizers at Kotka’s Mussalo port, announced the halt following the tariff hike. Weekly fertilizer trains had been arriving at the port, with nearly three million tons handled last year—23% of its total traffic.

Port CEO Eija Rossi called the loss significant, noting daily movements of fertilizer wagons. The port now seeks cost cuts, though Rossi said most expenses—like land leases and infrastructure upkeep—are essential. Staffing, already lean at 60 employees, is also under review.

Fertilizers, shipped onward to Africa and South America, accounted for a small share of Finland’s total imports. Russia’s overall exports to Finland are dominated by nickel ore, worth over €236 million in the first four months of this year—more than five times the value of fertilizer imports.