Shipping goods from Finland to Russia
Geographically, Finland is closer to the Russian border than any other EU country, and historically it offered the shortest road leg in Europe: 1–2 days from Helsinki to St Petersburg. The operating regime of the border crossings on this route has changed several times, however, so we confirm the current routing and real transit time with a logistician on the date of dispatch. Do not plan on last year’s transit times.
We collect from your premises in Helsinki, Kotka, Turku or Tampere, lodge the EX1 export declaration on your behalf and send you the MRN and proof of exit. If a crossing is unavailable, the cargo is rerouted — via our Baltic corridor through Vilnius or by sea via Rotterdam — and the transit time changes considerably. B2B only, from 50 kg per shipment (air freight has no weight limit), minimum service fee €200.
How we ship from Finland to Russia
Baltic route via Vilnius
Our Vilnius warehouse is the closest EU point to the border for non-sanctioned groupage: from €300 per pallet to Moscow, a full truck from €4,500. Cargo is accepted daily.
Sea via Rotterdam
Deliver to our warehouse in the port of Rotterdam (Mon–Wed); the groupage container closes on Friday and sails to St Petersburg at the weekend. 20–35 days door to door, from €200 per place (from €500 per euro pallet). Independent of queues at land borders.
Dedicated truck (FTL)
A truck loaded at your premises anywhere in the EU and driven without intermediate warehouses: from €4,500 Warsaw → Moscow, from €6,200 from Slovenia, from €6,500 from Italy.
Air freight
From any country in 2–8 days door to door via Istanbul or Dubai, charged by volumetric weight (1 m³ = 167 kg), no weight limit. Minimum service fee €200.
Transit times to Moscow
| Mode | Door to door |
|---|---|
| Road | 1–2 days |
| Sea (via port) | 2–4 days |
| Air | 2–8 days |
What suppliers ship from Finland to Russia
Finnish suppliers typically ship woodworking and paper-industry equipment from Tampere and Lappeenranta, pulp, paper and board, electronics and instruments from Espoo, packaging and food products from Helsinki, and transit cargo through the port of Kotka. Industrial and electronic items need precise HS classification, as many are restricted for export to Russia, and Russian import rules apply to food.
Where we collect from Finland
Helsinki, Kotka, Turku, Tampere and any other address.
Export formalities
Finland is an EU member state, so the export is declared on an EX1 lodged with Finnish customs. We lodge it on your behalf — €150 when your cargo travels via Rotterdam, from €450 remotely — and follow the MRN until the customs office of exit confirms the goods have left the EU. Finnish companies are meticulous about compliance and ask for confirmation of the end user; transit cargo from third countries via Kotka needs an extra set of documents, so we check the origin before booking.
EX1 export declaration →How it works for you as a supplier
- 1Quote within 2 hours
Send the invoice or packing list — we check the HS codes against EU sanctions lists and quote transport, export formalities and customs clearance in Russia. - 2Collection from your premises
We pick up the goods from your warehouse or factory and take them to our consolidation warehouse or load a dedicated truck. - 3Export declaration
We lodge the export declaration on your behalf and send you the MRN and the proof of exit — the basis for zero-rating VAT. - 4Delivery to your customer
Border crossing, customs clearance in Russia and delivery to your buyer’s warehouse; tracking at every stage.
Practical tips
- Always confirm the current routing and transit time with us on the date of dispatch — the border situation on this route has changed repeatedly.
- Allow for rerouting via other countries when planning a purchase: it can change the transit time significantly.
- For transit goods of third-country origin shipped via Kotka, prepare the origin documents before we book space.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Finland to Russia take?
Historically 1–2 days from Helsinki to St Petersburg, but crossing regimes have changed several times. We confirm the current route and transit time on the date of dispatch; rerouted cargo takes considerably longer.
How can my Russian customer pay me?
Your customer can use our supplier-payment service: they settle with a payment agent under an agency agreement, and a partner company resident in the EU pays your invoice in euros by bank transfer.
Which documents do I need?
A commercial invoice, packing list, HS codes and end-user details; origin documents for transit goods. We lodge the EX1 with Finnish customs on your behalf and send you the MRN and proof of exit.
Do you screen for sanctions?
Yes. Every HS code and party is checked against EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions and dual-use lists before we accept the cargo; restricted goods are declined.