OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2009. During January-April this year 8,50 mil tons of cargo was handled in Klaipeda port, i.e. by -18,6 percent or 1,95 mil tons less than during the same period 2008, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda port.

During January-April this year there decreased the volumes of all types of cargo (liquid, bulk and dry bulk and general cargo).

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

Comparing the types of bulk cargo handling during January-April 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 metals, comparing to the same period 2008. Stevedoring volumes of agricultural products are growing due to good harvest of Lithuanian products.

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

Due to the global economic recession there decreased consumption and international trade, besides, the states in order to safeguard their own markets practice protectionism policy and it significantly corrects transit cargo flows (especially Russian and Belarus cargo) in Klaipeda port. 

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

During April 2009 15,74 thousand passengers visited the port, i.e. by 10,3 percent less than during the same period last year.
 
Stevedoring volumes in Butinge terminal during April this year, comparing to April last year decreased by one third and made 500,5 thousand tons.

During January-April 2009 10,14 mil tons was handled in Ventspils port (during January-April 2009 10,39 mil tons was handled, difference -2,3 percent). During January-April this year stevedoring volumes of liquid cargo decreased by 2,8 percent in Ventspils port, 6,93 mil tons was handled, bulk and dry bulk cargo handling increased by 8,3 percent, 2,76 mil tons was handled, and general cargo volumes decreased by 35,7 percent, 455 thousand tons was handled, comparing to  January-April 2008.

According to the types of cargo, during January-April 2009 the biggest growth rates were reached in handling coal +762 thousand tons (during January-April 2009 2,23 mil tons was handled, difference +51,9 percent) and crude oil +22 thousand tons (during January-April 2009 454 thousand tons was handled, difference +5,1 percent). In Ventspils port there decrease stevedoring volumes of fertilizers -502 thousand tons (during January-April 2009 171 thousand tons was handled, difference -74,6 percent), ammonia -186 thousand tons (during January-April 2009 265 thousand tons was handled, difference -41,2 percent), Ro-Ro cargo -202 thousand tons (during January-April 2009  266 thousand tons was handled, difference -43,2 percent) and grain -109 thousand tons (during January-April 2009 111 thousand tons was handled, difference -49,5 percent).

The number of passengers in the neighbouring port during January-April 2009 decreased by 2 105 passengers and reached only 3 482, i.e. by 37,7 percent less than during January-April 2008. During the first four months of this year 683 ships were served in Ventspils port 683 (by 31 ships less than during January-April 2008).
 
In a joint Tallinn port during the first four months of this year 10,46 mil tons of cargo was handled (+0,1 percent difference comparing to January-April 2008). According to the types of cargo there decreased stevedoring volumes of bulk and dry bulk cargo by 25,7 percent or by 300 thousand tons, general cargo by 35,9 percent or by 82,3 thousand tons, and liquid cargo volumes increased by 11,4 percent or by 838 thousand tons. The biggest share in the total cargo structure of Tallinn port made liquid cargo (78,3 percent).

During January-April 2009 856 cargo ships called Tallinn port, i.e. by 110 ships more than during the same period 2008.

This year 1,92 mil passengers visited Tallinn port and during January-April 2008 there were 1,84 million (difference +4,5 percent).
 
During January-April 2009 9,87 mil tons of cargo was handled in Riga port, i.e. by 3,0 percent more, comparing to the same period 2008. Riga port turnover is further on growing due to increasing stevedoring volumes of oil products (+40,5 percent), coal (+12,4 percent) and bulk fertilizers (+8,6 percent).

Bulk and dry bulk cargo turnover during January-April 2009 made 6,42 mil tons, i.e. by  +91 thousand tons more than during January-April 2008. Analyzing the types of bulk and dry bulk cargo, the biggest growth rates were reached in handling coal, during January-April 2009 5,07 mil tons or by 12,4 percent more than during January-April 2008. Bulk fertilizers turnover was 642,3 thousand tons or +8,6 percent. Coal turnover made 51,4 percent of the total turnover of Riga port.

Liquid cargo volumes in the Latvian port during January-April 2009 increased by 40,0 percent and made 2,26 mil tons. Oil products handling made 99,5 percent of the total liquid cargo volume and it increased by 40,5 percent, or 2,24 mil tons of it was handled in Riga port.

General cargo turnover in Riga port during January-April 2009 decreased and reached 1192,8 thousand tons (-27,4 percent, comparing to January-April 2008). According to the types of general cargo, containerized cargo handling made 548,0 thousand tons (-10,5 percent), and timber made  428,2 thousand tons (–44,6 proc.).

During January-April 2009 117,1 thousand passengers visited Riga port and during January-April 2008 there were  85,7 thousand (difference +36,7 percent).
 
During the first four months of this year 1,33 mil tons of cargo was handled in Liepaja port  (-14,0 percent less than during January-April 2008). Liquid cargo handling volumes decreased by 57,9 percent and reached 159,4 thousand tons, bulk cargo turnover decreased by 9,7 percent and made 625,4 thousand tons, and general cargo volumes increased by 15,1 percent and made  538,7 thousand tons.