March 6, 2026
SCA will reorganise its RoRo logistics from 1 October 2026, changing sailing patterns and port usage between Umeå and Piteå. The measures aim to improve efficiency and cut vessel emissions by about 40%.
Key port-related changes
- Fewer RoRo departures from Umeå: services will drop from three to two sailings per week (one to Kiel, one to London/Rotterdam).
- Lower sailing speeds of 11–12 knots (down from about 15 knots) combined with higher vessel load factors.
- Piteå (Haraholmen) will become a regular call, allowing vessels to load production from SCA’s Munksund mill.
- Around 550,000–600,000 tonnes per year from Munksund will shift to Piteå, making SCA one of the port’s largest customers.
- The rail link between Munksund and Umeå will no longer be required.
Impact on ports
- Piteå gains significant new volumes, alongside SCA’s existing 300,000 m³ of sawmill cargo.
- Port operator ShoreLink expects to recruit around 20 additional staff to handle the increased activity.
- Umeå will see a reduction of about 300,000–400,000 tonnes annually from Munksund cargo, although growing volumes linked to the Obbola paper mill will partly offset the decline.
