Location and history of the Port of Kalajoki

The Port of Kalajoki is located by the Gulf of Bothnia which is part of the Baltic sea. The location of the port is ideally suited for client companies. Transportation distances are reasonable and the port is location near two highways, route 8 and route 27.

The connection to the port from route 8 is short, just 4 kilometres. Also, because the Port of Kalajoki is situated by the deep open sea the maintenance of the fairway is easier during the winter time when the sea freezes.
The distance to the fairway outside the Kalla islets is only 20-25 kilometres. The sea deepens fast at the mouth of the port and there the depth is already over 10 metres. A further 2 kilometres out from the port the sea has already reached a depth of 13-15 metres.

As a result of the favourable location there has been port activity in Rahja already since the late 19th century. Development of the port, in its’ present location, began in the late 1950’s and for the last 40 years the port has been vigourously improved.

Area and facilities of the port

The size of the harbour is approximately 32 hectares. The depth of the fairway and the port basin is 8.5 metres. The length of the quay is 415 metres and can berth 3 vessels at any one time. There is 30,000 m2 covered storage available at the open storage area. Kalajoki town owns most of the harbour area and facilities and has leased them to the companies operating in the port.

Within a very close distance there are business’s involved in recycling as well as the manufacturing of steel components.

Operations and traffic in the port

The Port of Kalajoki is an independent and free trade port which deals with its customers equally. By using the Port of Kalajoki any company can export even small amounts of goods for global markets with reasonable pricing. This is achieved when one load is collected from several companies shipments. In this case, if the client requests, the export goods can be collected straight from the saw-mill or factory by using the port operators own up-to-date transportation equipment. The port operators for the Port of Kalajoki are Oy Blomberg Stevedoring Ab and Rahjan Huolinta - forwarding company. The overall traffic of the Port of Kalajoki is approximately 350,000 tonnes and there are about 100 vessels visiting the port annually.

80 percent of the traffic from the Port of Kalajoki is export. Sawn timber is the main export product of the port and every year 400,000 m3 is shipped from Kalajoki.

Along with the ports’ specialisation in sawn timber products also the professional wood processing industry has been advancing in Kalajoki. The port has 60 saw mill companies as its clients and 10 – 20 other industrial companies from Northern-, Eastern- and Mid Finland. Sawn timber products are mainly exported to England, Spain and Mediterranean countries. In addition to sawn timber products plywood, steel components, scrap iron, milled white peat, grain and wood pellets are exported.

Exports make up 20 percent of the overall traffic. For example, raw minerals used in the pulp- and paper industry, slag, tile industry minerals and different types of botanical material used in the feed industry are imported through the Port of Kalajoki. The importing of bulk goods has been made easier: port warehouses have been built for the purpose and there is a truck scale that can weigh full-trailer combinations.

The Port of Kalajoki is currently employing 80 people of which 55 are working for Rahjan Huolinta -forwarding company. In addition the Port of Kalajoki indirectly employs a number of people working for transportation- and maintenance services. This way the indirect employment effect is remarkable.

The capacity of the Port of Kalajoki could hold significantly larger deliveries, than it does at the moment, so we are welcoming new clients to get to know the competitive options the Port of Kalajoki has to offer.