Finland stops rail freight imports from Russia at end of July 2026

The main losers are block trains carrying ammonia for fertiliser production via the Vainikkala border station, a large share of which goes on through the port of Kotka to Africa; the freight railway North Rail (Nurminen Logistics), which specialises in hauling these trains, has announced redundancies and its survival is at risk.

On 1 July 2026 Russia closed most border crossings to Finland, Estonia and Latvia, but freight trains are exempt. Finland has nevertheless decided to end rail imports at the end of July because Russia raised customs duties on goods shipped to Finland eightfold; Finland itself had closed its border with Russia and ended passenger trains in December 2023. Most affected are block trains with ammonia for fertiliser production (not covered by EU sanctions for food-security reasons) that run via the Vainikkala border station and largely go on to Africa through the port of Kotka, plus the freight operator North Rail (Nurminen Logistics) with nine Dr20 diesel locomotives, which specialises in hauling these trains: it has announced redundancies and its survival is at risk. The date is the day of the report; the article does not name the day of the decision. (LOK Report, 7 Jul 2026)