OREANDA-NEWS. October 21, 2008. During January-September 2008, Klaipeda Port handled 23,14 million tons of cargo, which is higher by +13,2 % in comparison to the corresponding period of 2007, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.

The biggest growth during January-September of this year was recorded in handling raw sugar (+2,1 times, 284,5 thousand tons handled), ferroalloys (+41,6 %, 364,2 thousand tons handled), agricultural products (+35,3 %, 991,0 thousand tons handled), oil products (+26,4 %, 7,2 million tons handled), containers (in terms of tonnage) (+22,2 %,  2,7 million tons, handled), bulk fertilizers (+20,7 %, 4,6 million tons handled) in comparison to the same period of 2007.    

Handling of container units (TEU) has grown by +19,0 %, while the figure for ro-ro units slightly declined (-5,8 %).

Total number of incoming ferry passengers has slightly decreased by 1,1 % in three quarters of this year and totalled 237,5 thousand.

Butinge Oil Terminal handled 6,86 million tons of crude oil in January –September 2008 (increase in turnover by 82,3 %).
 
The cargo turnover in Klaipeda port in September 2008 totalled 2,47 million tons, i.e., the monthly turnover increased by 11,0 % in comparison to September 2007.

In September 2008 turnover of all types of cargo was growing: liquid cargoes +22,5 %, bulk and dry cargoes +8,6 %, general cargoes +3,8 %, in comparison to September 2007.

Growth in turnover of liquid cargoes was largely influenced by more than 40% increased handling of oil products at the port of Klaipeda (in September 2008, 0,63 million tons handled, in September 2007 – 0,44 million tons, change +43,6 %). Handling of liquid fertilisers in September of this year slumped by -34,1 % (in September 2008, 119,09 thousand tons handled, September 2007 – 180,68 thousand tons) in comparison to September 2007.

In terms of nomenclature of bulk cargoes handled in September of 2008 and 2007, increased turnover was recorded for primary and processed minerals (2,5 times, 93,84 thousand tons handled), fertilisers (+23,0 %, 522,11 thousand tons handled) and agricultural products (+7,5 %, 218,87 thousand tons handled). September of this year saw decline in handling of scrap metal (-81,8 %, 13,94 thousand tons handled), ferroalloys (-11,1 %, 24,30 thousand tons turnover) and other dry cargoes.

In terms of nomenclature of general cargoes, the following types of cargo showed particularly strong growth: packed fertilisers (+3,0 times, 41,76 thousand tons handled), containers (in terms of tonnage) (+21,0 %, 284,44 thousand tons handled), iron- and steel ware (+13,8 %, 33,53 thousand tons handled) and refrigerated cargo (+9,3 %, 27,09 thousand tons handled). Decline was recorded in handling of timber (-36,3 %, 43,14 thousand tons handled) and ro-ro cargoes (in terms of tonnage) (-11,7 %, 318,58 thousand tons handled). Decline in handling of timber was determined by rainy weather conditions, which complicated delivery of timber from forests.

Handling of container units (TEU) in September of this year increased by 13,8 % (turnover of 31.127 TEU) in comparison to the same period of 2007. Handling of ro-ro units decreased by -11,0 % (turnover of 17.202 TEU).

In September 2008 32,91 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda, including 7,03  thousand visitors who arrived on cruise ships.

During the cruise season, which ended in the end of September, 46 cruise vessels with total number of 32.461 passengers were serviced at the port of Klaipeda.