OREANDA-NEWS. April 14, 2009. In the first quarter of 2009 stevedoring companies of the group “Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg” handled over 2 mln. of cargoes, which is by 18% less than the corresponding figures of the last year.

“First Stevedoring Company” handled 0,8 mln. tons (-27%); “Second Stevedoring Company” handled 0,4 mln. tons, which corresponds to the same period of 2008.  “Fourth Stevedoring Company” handled 0.7 mln. tons. (-15%). 

Car terminal on the territory of Third Stevedoring Company wasn’t performing any handling operations in the first quarter of 2009. In February of 2009 the group of companies “Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg” awarded a contract with new logistical operator, which envisages the car handling operations starting from the second quarter of this year.
 
The reduction of the cargo handling volumes of “Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg” is caused by the decrease of business activities of consignors of goods due to the economic crisis. In these conditions the handling volumes of import cargoes on the berths of the group of companies reduced by 40%, export volumes decreased by 12%.

Volumes of import cargoes have significantly decreased (general cargoes, i.e. metals(-38%), break-bulk cargoes (-44%); loose and bulk cargoes  (-30%)).

Volumes of certain categories of export cargoes have increased (steel (+51%), non-ferrous metals (+8%) and coal (+7%)). 

Despite of negative factors of economic environment, the company proceeds with the implementation of the development programme of port infrastructure. Within the development programme three projects have been successfully implemented.  Measures taken by the groups of companies to decrease the impact of economic crisis are aimed at preservation of personnel and reduction of nonproductive company costs.