OREANDA-NEWS. May 13, 2009. During January-April this year 8,50 mil t was handled in Klaipeda port, i.e. by 18,6 percent or by 1,95 mil t less than during the same period last year, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda port.
 
The biggest growth rates during January-April this year was reached in handling agricultural products (+160,7 thousand t), bulk peat  (+85,2 thousand t) and packed fertilizers (+27,9 thousand t, comparing to January-April 2008.
                     
Cargo handling volumes in April 2009 decreased by one fifth - 2,03 mil t of cargo was handled, i.e. by 24,2 percent less comparing to April 2008.

During April 2009 the turnover of liquid cargo decreased by 25,7 percent, bulk and dry bulk cargo by14,3 percent, and general cargo by 22,4 percent, comparing to April 2008.

Among the volumes of liquid cargo there only increased molasses (during January-April 2009 17,8 thousand t was handled, and during January-April 2008– 10,3 thousand t, difference 1,7 times). Comparing to four months of last year there mostly decreased stevedoring volumes of liquid fertilizers (during January-April 2009 0,34 mil t was handled, and during January-April 2008 – 0,50 mil t) and oil products (during January-April 2009 2,91 mil t was handled, and during January-April 2008 – 3,38 mil t was handled, difference -0,47 mil t).

Comparing the types of bulk cargo handled during January-April of 2009 and 2008, the growth was observed in handling agricultural products and peat. During January-April 2009 there mostly decreased stevedoring volumes of bulk fertilizers and scrap metal, comparing to during January-April 2008. The growth of stevedoring volumes of agricultural products was predetermined by the good crop of Lithuanian products of last year.

Among the types of general cargo during January-April 2009 there mostly increased the turnover of packed fertilizers (+13,0 thousand t, 31,8 thousand t was handled, difference +68,8 percent). There also decreased the volumes of containers (from the point of view of tonnage) (-289,8 thousand t, 845,5 thousand t was handled, difference -25,5 percent), Ro-Ro cargo (from the point of view of tonnage) (-282,5 thousand t,  952,0 thousand t  was handled, difference -22,9 percent) and timber (-147,5 thousand t, 117,7 thousand t was handled,  difference -55,6 percent).  

Due to the global economic recession there decreased consumption and international trade, besides, in order to safeguard  their own markets the countries practice protection policy and this significantly corrects  transit cargo flows via Klaipeda port (especially those of Belarus and Russia).

During April this year the turnover of containers (TEU) in the port was by 28,7 percent less than during April 2008 (during April 2009 20 326 TEU was handled, difference -10 319 TEU). Ro-Ro units handling decreased by 24,6 percent (during April 2009  14 090 units was handled, difference -3 079 units). Due to the global recession of economics which has especially touched the trade of expensive products, there decreased stevedoring volumes of this type of cargo.

During April 2009 15,74 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda port, i.e. by 10,3 percent less than during April 2008.

Butinge terminal turnover during April this year comparing to April 2008 decreased by one third and made 500,5 thousand tons.