OREANDA-NEWS. April 20, 2009. The Freeport of Ventspils Administration: the total volume of cargo, being handled at the Freeport of Ventspils in the first three months of this year, amounted to 7.8 million tons, registering 514,000 tons less or 6% drop on the results of the same period of the last year.

Still, the cargo turnover in the first quarter of the year has been 591,000 tons higher than expected. The total expected cargo turnover in year 2009 is 29 million tons or around 2.4 million tons per month.

The largest volume of cargo handled was liquid cargo, 5.57 million tons of which were handled in January-March this year. The volume of bulk cargo was 1.93 million tons and the volume of general cargo over this period of time reached 344,000 tons.

The steepest increase was registered for wood chips cargo, 106,000 tons of which were handled in the first quarter of this year, or 40% more than in the respective period of time in 2008. Also the volume of coal and timber materials handled at the port increased – by 28.40% and 15% respectively.

The types of cargo, which, in January-March, were handled at the Ventspils Port in lower quantity than in the first quarter of year 2008, were containerized cargo, fertilizers, construction materials and raw sugar.

Over the first quarter, 4.9 million tons of oil products, 1.5 million tons of coal and 436,000 tons of crude oil were handled at the port.

Ferry lines, operating from the Freeport of Ventspils, have transported 2,428 passengers, 956 passenger cars and 7,551 cargo units so far this year.