LKAB's harbours are located in Narvik and Luleå and constitute the backbone of our logistics system. The railway links together the ports on the Atlantic and Gulf of Bothnia coastlines with our operating locations.
Every year, several million tonnes of iron ore products are shipped out to our customers via these ports. Around two-thirds of the iron ore exports are shipped out from Narvik, while a third is shipped out from Luleå.
Port of Narvik
LKAB's largest harbour is located in Narvik and has a capacity of almost 30 million tonnes of iron ore products per year. The harbour is ice-free all year round and is deep enough to accommodate ocean-going vessels.
The unloading station for the trains in Narvik is particularly impressive. The 650 metre long, automated station has been developed for a high unloading capacity and environmental efficiency. The unloading station is powered by advanced automation, enabling an ore training carrying 6,800 tonnes of iron ore products to be unloaded in 30 minutes. The trains' self-emptying cars are opened when the train drives over the unloading station. This ensures an efficient and sustainable solution where no products are still present on the return journey. The unloading station and storage area have been specially developed to store products in large, underground silos.
Since 2016, there has been a new quay and shiploader in Narvik. The shiploader is 160 metres long, weighs 1,700 tonnes and has a capacity equivalent to 8,000 tonnes of iron ore pellets or 11,000 tonnes of iron ore fines an hour.
Port of Luleå
The ore harbour in Luleå is ice-free for around 7 months a year, and with the proximity of many of our European customers, the transport route from harbour to customer is relatively short. The harbour has a capacity of 8 million tonnes per year.