Stable continuity for the Port of Turku’s warehousing services
The third cornerstone of the Port of Turku’s business activities consists of warehousing and logistics services. These support services for shipping have been developed in close co-operation with service providers in the sector with consideration for their needs and wishes.
The aim for the ongoing investments and partnerships has been to strengthen Turku’s position as a distribution hub for Scandinavia, through which different products travel quickly and reliably in all directions. Numerous options guarantee reliable, safe and individual storage options that meet the specific criteria of all types of products.
Throughout 2024, the capacity of the port’s own storage facilities was fully booked. Due to the strong and increasing demand, many new storage facilities have been built in the port in recent years and the construction continued in 2024. A new 7,000-square metre Best-Hall building was built in the Pansio logistics area, thereby increasing the overall storage space in Pansio to a total of about 32,500 square metres.
The Port of Turku also has the capacity to launch new construction projects quickly, according to the wishes of customers, both in the inner harbour and Pansio areas.
Investments are realised by the port and the facilities are leased to customers through long-term contracts.
Turku Free Zone Company fell behind its previous record pace
The year 2024 was financially challenging for Turku Free Zone Company, which is part of the Port of Turku Group. After a record year in 2023, a small decline was anticipated, but the economic downturn was reflected so strongly in the demand for services that turnover fell by approximately 34% from the previous year to EUR 2.9 million. In addition to the small volumes and immobility of goods, the result was primarily impacted by the delay in the Icon 2 project being implemented by the Meyer Turku shipyard. The project was scheduled to get underway during the summer but was delayed first until autumn and then to the end of the year, and the resulting losses were not even alleviated by new customer contracts signed during the year. Despite the challenging times, the investments planned for 2024 were realised and two new halls raised the total warehouse capacity to about 60,000 square metres.
The year 2025 is a landmark year for Turku Free Zone Company, since the company started operations in 1965 when the first Opel cars were rolled off a ship into the Free Zone storage area. Based on the outlook for the beginning of the year, this anniversary year is looking up, as activity has, once again, been increasing during these initial months. The growth is being driven by the continued collaboration with Meyer Turku shipyard and the Royal Caribbean shipping company, whose luxury cruise liner logistics are all being handled by Turku Free Zone Company. New segments are constantly being sought to augment our current customer portfolio and, for example, the construction sector and importation of cars is expected to pick up and generate new business. The hope is also to establish logistics co-operation with the Ferry Terminal Turku project, as Turku Free Zone Company has the space needed to store all the necessary building materials and components right next to the building site itself. For the purpose of building new growth, Turku Free Zone Company relies on its well-known strengths: the service-oriented attitude of its entire personnel and its ability to rapidly respond to the needs of its customers.
Text: Kari Ahonen
Photo: Valote
