Border traffic in Imatra down by more than third in October

No obvious signs yet of economic crisis at Vaalimaa border crossing point

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The reduced number of car transports to the Russian market has eased traffic jams and shortened queues at the Imatra frontier station.
      Truck traffic from Finland to Russia was reduced by more than a third in October compared to a month earlier. In all, 5,600 trucks crossed the border into Russia.
      The majority of the goods traffic via the Imatra border crossing point consists of car transporters, the number of which was reduced by nearly a half.
     
According to Seppo Vento, head of the Imatra Customs station, the reduced number of border crossings is reminiscent of the situation in the late 1990s, when the value of the rouble plummeted.
      “With regard to the number of car-carrying vehicles, this has been the largest single reduction”, Vento comments, referring to the October figures.
      For years car transports in transito traffic have increased through Finland to Russia, but for the first time there are now signs of the growth starting to plateau.
      Behind the development lies the tightened economic situation in Russia.
      Getting a loan to buy a car has become more difficult, and so there are fewer buyers.
     
At the other two large frontier stations, however, the effects of the credit crunch have not really caused any visible changes. For example, home electronics are hauled to Russia via Finland in large quantities as before.
      At the Nuijamaa border crossing point, traffic in October remained at the September level. At Vaalimaa, a new heavy traffic record was set in October.
      In excess of 22,000 trucks crossed over to Russia through the Vaalimaa station last month.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Major unemployment threat looming over Hanko as imports of cars grind to a halt (30.10.2008)
  Brakes come on for transit traffic of cars through Finland to Russia (23.10.2008)
  Finland considers limiting number of border-crossing permits for Russian trucks in attempt to solve congestion problems (16.10.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat