OREANDA-NEWS. September 11, 2008. In January-August, 2008, Freeport of Riga handled 19.413.6 million tonnes of cargo (+12.5%, year-on-year), the company informs.

In the reported period, transshipment of general cargo fell by 13% to 3.373.5 million tonnes. The port’s container throughput totaled 135,241 TEU (-2.8%, year-on-year) while transshipment of ro-ro cargo grew by 36.3% to 434,300 tonnes.

In January-August, transshipment of liquid bulk cargo fell by 1.4% to 3.355.3 million tonnes including 3.313.6 million tonnes of oil products (-1.8%, year-on-year).

Transshipment of loose cargo increased by 27.1% to 12.684.8 million tonnes including 236,100 tonnes of grain (+195.9%), 8.835.7 million tonnes of coal (+33.6%) and 149,700 tonnes of sugar (+56.1).

Freeport of Riga lies on both banks of the River Daugava covering 15 kilometres in length. Loading capacity (assessed) at the terminals of the Freeport of Riga accounts for 45 million tons per annum.

In 2007 the volume of the transshipped cargoes has reached 25,9 million tons – it is the highest index during all the 805 years of Riga port activities.

Up to 80% of the Freeport of Riga cargo turnover is made up of transit cargoes forwarded to or received from the CIS. 31 stevedore companies and 40 shipping agents successfully operate at the Freeport of Riga. Main types of cargo handled at the Freeport of Riga are containers, various metals, timber, coal, mineral fertilizers, chemical cargoes, oil and food products.