Aspo - Company Announcement

ASPO AND RAUTARUUKKI SIGN A LONG-TERM CONTRACT FOR SEA TRANSPORT

Aspo Plc   STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE  February 11, 2011 at 8.45 a.m.

ESL Shipping Ltd, part of Aspo Group, has signed a new, long-term contract with
Rautaruukki Corporation for the marine transport of raw materials on the Baltic
Sea. The long-standing partnership and commitment enable both parties to develop
their respective operations, and ESL Shipping will also have the opportunity to
update its fleet and improve its efficiency. The fleet of pusher barges,
particularly used for transporting the raw materials of the steel industry, will
be docked and vessels will be modernized during the summer of 2011."Extending the long-standing co-operation will further reinforce the position of
ESL Shipping as the leading carrier of dry bulk cargo in the Baltic Sea region.
Our ongoing investment program for new dry bulk cargo vessels, and the long-term
contract we have signed with Rautaruukki indicate significant commitment to
mutual co-operation," says Markus Karjalainen, CEO of ESL Shipping.

ESL Shipping transports dry bulk cargo, mainly in the Baltic Sea region;
approximately 11 million tons in 2009. The steel industry's share of transports
was 53 percent, and the energy industry represented 43 percent. The shipping
company's fleet consists of 15 vessels, of which it owns 12 in full. Two are
leased and one is partially owned. The total dead weight tonnage of the vessels
is approximately 200,000 tons. The shipping company will take delivery of a new
vessel in the spring of 2011. The approximately 20,000 dwt vessel has been
ordered from India. Two supramax vessels have been ordered from Korea, and they
are scheduled to be in traffic in the first half of 2012.

ASPO Plc

Aki Ojanen
CEO

Further information:
Markus Karjalainen, CEO, ESL Shipping Ltd, +358 9 5211, +358 400 888 020,
 markus.karjalainen@eslshipping.com

Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Key media
www.aspo.com

Aspo is a conglomerate that owns and develops business operations in Northern
Europe and growth markets focusing on demanding B-to-B customers. Our strong
company brands - ESL Shipping, Leipurin, Telko and Kaukomarkkinat - aim to be
the market leaders in their sectors. They are responsible for their own
operations, customer relationships and the development of these. Together they
generate Aspo's goodwill. Aspo's Group structure and business operations are
continually developed without any predefined schedules.


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