The UK has a good trading relationship with Finland and sending freight to Finland from the UK and Finland is relatively easy, although as with any shipments, it is essential to provide all proper documentation and paperwork for the process to go smoothly.
Whether you are looking to send heavy machinery, a range of consumer goods, or food and other perishable items, you can choose from shipping, sending freight by air, or by road (and ferry) to Finland.
The best freight option, as I will explain below though, will depend on your needs in terms of budget, available time for the freight to reach its destination, and a few other considerations.
The UK to Finland Trade Route
Finland is presently a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), Finland and is located in northern Europe and is a handy shipping location for freight with a number of major ports such as:
- Helsinki
- Kotka
- and Turku
These ports serve as a gateway from which UK goods can enter Finland.
There are three main modes of transportation used to ship freight between the UK and Finland: road, sea, and air.
The best option really depends on time, budget, and the type of shipment as we will explain below.
Commonly Shipped Goods
The types of goods that we commonly see shipped to Finland are fairly similar to those we mentioned for freight to Sweden and to Finland these include:
- Vehicles
- Heavy duty machinery
- Pharmaceutical products
- consumer electronics.
From Finland to the UK, imports from the UK include:
- Wood
- Paper products
- Chemicals
- and refined petroleum.
Freight Shipping Options
We tend to fine that there are clear and normally quite instant decisions that can be made regards the best shipping option for the freight you plan to send.
When costs is a leading factor in sending freight to Finland, sending it by road and/or ship tends to be the best option.
For speed, air freight is a good choice, although you will often find that it is about intermodal freight meaning that even if you send a delivery by air, there it will still require transportation by road freight from the airport in Finland to the exact location.
Inter-modal freight basically refers to the use of multiple transportation types to get your freight from the UK to Finland.
Do not stress though as this is what we are experts in as we can help you easily decide the most effective option for the type of freight and your personal needs when sending freight to Finland.
a) Road Freight
From the UK to Finland, the majority of goods are generally transported by ferry across to the mainland of Europe (often from Dover-Calais) and then driven across the continent via Germany, Poland, and the Baltics, to Finland.
This would be a typical scenario for sending your freight by road from the UK to any part of Finland.
This works particularly well for freight where there is no essential timeline and is cost-effective for small to medium-sized shipments.
b) Sea Freight
Sea freight is also a popular option and this tends to involve a more direct process in terms of the use of the sea with large shipments often sent by ship across the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
The ports of Helsinki or Turku tend normally to receive the freight and then completed by road.
Sea freight freight is not the fastest service to is less appropriate for sending non-perishable goods to Finland but is possible (it really depends on the type of perishables – and we can advise you on this).
c) Air Freight
Have a very urgent product you need to send to Finland or receive from Finland? Then air freight will likely be the service.
If you need an urgent machine part, for example, you might receive or get it to the destination overnight.
Airports such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham have good connections to airports in Finland and are most often used.
d) Rail Freight
Rail freight is less common for UK to Finland freight shipments, but is possible.
There is not a direct route between the UK and Finland, but by using an intermodal freight rail option is possible.
Documentation & Regulations For Sending Freight to Finland
No matter what country you are sending freight to from the UK, as mentioned earlier, having the right paperwork and documentation in place is essential, to avoid any complications.
Customs and import requirements need to be met.
We have over 20+ years of experience in managing international freight shipments and are familiar with the documentation for sending freight to/from Finland and can provide this for you.
Complying with EU regulations is important but we can take any stress away from you and organise all paperwork and documentation.
Key Shipping Documents
Just to explain the types of documents we can sort out for you, that you WILL need:
- Commercial Invoice – this normally details what you are sending including details such as the value of the items and their sellable value.
- Bill of Lading – this acts as a type of receipt as it in essence is a contract between the shipper and the carrier.
- Packing List – What’s in the shipment, what’s the weight, etc?
- Export Declaration: You need the shipment to pass customs and so this is an essential document.
Timeframes and Transit Times
We often get asked how long a shipment will take to get to Finland and the answer overall is that it really depends on the type of freight, the type of transportation used, and a few other factors.
Just to give a very typical set of timelines though, the following list is a very general example:
- Road Freight: 4 to days, depending on the route chosen and ongoing customs clearance times.
- Sea Freight: 5 to 10 days, depending on the specific shipping route used and the shipping schedules.
- Air Freight: 1 or 2 days
- Rail Freight: When used in combination with road or sea transport, rail freight can typically take 7 to 10 days.
As can you can appreciate, factors such as weather conditions (particularly in the winter months) can impact delivery times and sometimes slow down shipments.
Sustainability and Sending Freight to Finland
We are conscious of sustainability at RSJ International and we appreciate that it needs to be considered in the freight industry and for global trade.
Many businesses are now exploring greener shipping options and some strategies for reducing the environmental impact of freight shipping are as follows:
- Eco-Friendly Packaging: We suggest to try and use recyclable or biodegradable packaging for freight where possible.
- Optimizing Transport Modes: It is considered that slower but more environmentally friendly shipping options like sea freight when time allows can be preferable, as these produce fewer emissions compared to air freight.
Final Thoughts – Get a Quote
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