OREANDA-NEWS. May 15, 2009. In January-April 2009, Russian seaports handled 151.5 million tonnes of cargo (+5.1%, year-on-year). According to Russian Association of Sea Commercial Ports the growth should be attributed to higher transshipment of liquid bulk cargo which increased by 12.4% to 94.1 million tonnes.

In the reported period, transshipment of dry cargo fell by 5.1%, year-on-year, to 57.4 million tonnes. Transshipment of mineral fertilizers (chemicals) fell by 35.1% (-1.4 million tonnes), containers – by almost 40% (-478,300 TEU), timber – almost 2 times (-1.8 million tonnes), general cargo – by 23.4% (-4.4 million tonnes).

Transshipment of coal increased by 7.4% (+1.3 million tonnes), ore – almost 1.5 times (+0.8 million tonnes), cargoes transported by ferries – by 14.1% (+0.3 million tonnes). Seaports of the South Basin (NovorossiyskCommercial Sea Port in particular) considerably increased transshipment of grain – almost 4-fold (+2.3 million tonnes).
 
Seaports of the North Basin handled 68.9 million tonnes (+1%) including 22.7 million tonnes of dry cargo (-18.5%) and 46.2 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo (+14.5%); South Basin – 57.2 million tonnes (+15.3%) including 18.8 million tonnes of dry cargo (+30.8%) and 38.4 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo (+9%); Far East Basin – 25.4 million tonnes (-3.6%) including 15.9 million tonnes of dry cargo (-13%) and 9.5 million tonnes of liquid bulk cargo (+17.4%).

Association of Sea Commercial Ports (ASOP) set up in 1987 unites over 50 organizations and enterprises of Russia’s maritime transport. ASOP comprises commercial seaports, forwarding and agency companies, scientific research institutes and marine educational institutions. Operational results of Russian port sector are based on statistics reports and cover all stevedoring companies operating in the Russian Federation.