OREANDA-NEWS. August 08, 2008. During January-July 2008 in Klaipeda port 18,24 million tons was handled. It is by 16,2 percent more than during the same period 2007, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda port.

The biggest growth rates during January-July this year were reached in handling raw sugar(+93,2 percent), agricultural products (+62,4 percent), alloys (+55,3 percent), bulk fertilizers (+32,5 percent), oil products (+25,7 percent) and containers (from the point of view of tonnage (+22,3 percent) comparing to the same period 2007.

Container handling increased by 20,2 percent (TEU), and ro-ro units handling decreased a little (-5,5 percent).

During seven months of this year the total number of passengers decreased by 3,4 percent and made 156,3 thousand.

In Butinge terminal during January - July 2008 5,16 million tons of crude oil was handled  (stevedoring volumes increased by 76,3 percent). The growth was predetermined by the increased demand of oil products and processing volumes of oil refinery AB „Mazeikiu nafta“.
 
During July 2008 2,35 million tons of cargo was handled in Klaipeda port i.e. that the monthly turnover decreased by  8,7 percent comparing to July 2007.
 
Cargo handling in Klaipeda port during July 2007 and 2008
During July 2008 there decreased stevedoring volumes of all types of cargo: liquid cargo -15,5 percent, bulk and dry bulk cargo -1,4 percent, general cargo -8,3 percent, comparing to July 2007.

The decrease of liquid cargo volumes was predetermined by the decrease of the handling volumes of natural and mineral fertilizers (during July 2008 107,29 thousand tons was handled, during July 2007 – 145,07 thousand tons, difference -26,0 percent) and oil products handling  (during July 2008 0,65 million tons was handled, during July 2007 – 0,75 million tons, difference -13,6 percent).

Comparing July 2008 and 2007 the types of bulk cargo the growth was observed in handling scrap metal (3,4 times), bulk fertilizers (+31,6 percent) and alloys (+26,0 percent). The biggest volumes of fertilizers was handled – more than  0,58 million tons (it is the second result after oil products handling). During July this year there decreased the stevedoring volumes of minerals (-66,1 percent), agricultural products (-58,7 percent), raw sugar (-44,6 percent) and other bulk cargo. 

Among general cargo there separate stevedoring volumes of ore and steel products (+58,1 percent) and containers (from the point of view of tonnage) (+10,9 percent). There decreased handling volumes of timber (-42,3 percent), ro-ro cargo (from the point of view of tonnage) (-17,3 percent), cold cargo (-13,1 percent) and packed fertilizers (-2,8 percent).

The number of containers (in TEU) increased by 16,8 percent comparing to the same period of  2007. Ro-ro units handling decreased by 11,1 percent. 

During July 2008 36,3 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda port including 4,5 thousand by cruise vessels.