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Logistics in Turku: shipbuilding, life sciences and a busy commercial port

Turku lies at the mouth of the river Aura on Finland's south-west coast and has around 200,000 residents. It is the country's oldest city and was its capital until the early 19th century. Internationally, it is known above all for the large shipyard in Perno, where some of the world's largest cruise ships are built. The yard depends on a wide network of suppliers, so steel parts, cabin modules, interior fittings and technical equipment move into the area in large volumes, and a logistics company has to keep that flow of materials steady.

The second major pillar is life sciences. The University of Turku, Åbo Akademi University and the science park in Kupittaa have attracted many pharmaceutical, diagnostics and biotech companies, which need careful handling of sensitive and often temperature-sensitive goods. For such consignments, a temperature log can be provided during freight transport.

Transport links are strong. Passenger and freight ferries connect the Port of Turku with Stockholm via the Åland Islands, the neighbouring port of Naantali handles ro-ro traffic from Sweden, and Turku Airport lies just north of the city. The Turku Fair Centre in Artukainen hosts trade fairs that regularly need stands and exhibition material from abroad, which adds further demand for international haulage.

The haulage route from the UK to Turku and customs procedures

Every road freight journey to Turku begins with the Channel crossing, either on a Dover–Calais ferry or on Le Shuttle between Folkestone and Coquelles. After that, two main routes are common. The first continues through Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany into Denmark on the E45, crosses the Great Belt and Øresund bridges into Sweden and heads north on the E4 to Stockholm. From Stockholm, ferries sail directly to Turku, while ro-ro services from Kapellskär arrive in Naantali, a short drive from the city.

The second option uses the Travemünde–Helsinki ferry across the Baltic Sea. From Helsinki, national road 1 (E18) runs west as a motorway to Turku, around 165 km away. Which route we choose depends on the collection day and the current ferry timetables.

UK–Finland customs requirements

Because Finland is in the EU, consignments arriving from Great Britain need an export declaration in the UK and an import declaration in the EU. Sender and importer both need valid EORI numbers. At Dover and the Channel Tunnel, these declarations are linked to the vehicle through GVMS and a Goods Movement Reference. Please arrange the documents with your customs agent before the vehicle arrives for loading, as DAGO Express does not prepare these declarations.

Haulage between the UK and Turku with a reliable European network

DAGO Express coordinates more than 50,000 vehicles across 38 countries, and over 15,000 businesses already use the service. If a vehicle breaks down during transit, a replacement vehicle is dispatched to complete the delivery. The international leg is handled by verified partners who hold a valid EU licence and, for hazardous goods, an ADR licence. Every shipment is monitored around the clock, including at weekends and on public holidays, and DAGO Express holds ISO 9001 certification.

Goods are insured through the Schunck Group up to 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight. For high-value freight, such as medical equipment, you can add extra cover at short notice. A tracking link arrives immediately after booking, and you are informed by email when the goods are collected and delivered. Regular customers can use the DAGO ShipperHub to manage orders, follow ETAs and pull real-time reports, and can connect it to their ERP system.

To calculate a price, enter the postcodes, dimensions and weight into the online price calculator, and the result appears in seconds. You can also book via the DAGO app or request a quote by email. From Turku, the network continues to the Åland Islands, other Finnish regions, and back across the Baltic to Sweden.