The two have reached an agreement, following which the Finnish shipping company will handle the transportation of raw materials and finished steel products for the new steel mill under construction in Swedish Boden.

The €6.5 billion project, backed by the EU Innovation Fund with €250 million, will be the world's first large-scale near-zero-emission steelworks - and Europe's first mill in half a century. The 270-hectare facility will use hydrogen (700-megawatt electrolyser) and renewable electricity to cut its CO₂ footprint by 95% vs blast-furnace steelmaking. The mill aims to see its first output in 2027 and reach an annual production of five million tonnes of green steel by 2030.

"Securing a long-term agreement with Stegra is an important achievement for ESL Shipping. We are pleased to support Stegra with reliable maritime logistics and look forward to building a successful long-term partnership. The agreement is a strong endorsement of our ability to serve demanding industrial supply chains in Northern Europe," commented Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping.

Jenny Marin, Head of Logistics, Stegra, added, "Maritime transport is a critical part of our logistics network, and having the right partners is essential to our success. ESL Shipping's experience in Northern Europe and our shared ambition for decarbonisation and sustainability make the company an important partner in the seagoing supply chains supporting our operations in Boden."