OREANDA-NEWS. July 14, 2009. In the first half of 2009, Klaipeda Port handled 13,03 million tons of marine cargo, i.e. by -18,0 % or 2,87 million tons less than in corresponding  period of 2008, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.
 
The largest growth rates in January-June this year were recorded in handling of agricultural products (+206,3 thousand tons, change  +33,1 %), bulk peat (+111,8 thousand tons, change +2,4 times) and packed fertilizers (+33,0 thousand tons, change +20,8%), in comparison with January-June  2008.
                     
In June of 2009 the port handled nearly 2,21 million tons of cargo, i.e. by ?  less comparing to June last year.

In the first month of summer of 2009, the rates of liquid cargo handling decreased by -7,1 %, handling of dry and bulk cargo decreased by –41,0 %, and general cargo – by -26,6 %, comparing to June 2008.
 
In terms of liquid cargo handling, a slight increase was recorded only in turnover of liquid fertilizers (87,0 thousand tons handled in June 2009,  84,0 thousand tons – in June 2008, change +3,7 %). Comparing to June last year, a slight drop in liquid cargo turnover was recorded in handling figures for oil products (934,1 thousand tons handled in June 2009, 848,8 thousand tons – in June 2008, change –9,1 %). However, the growth tendency has been observed in handling of oil products during the last months (in comparison with April this year, when 577,9 thousand tons of oil products were handled).
 
In terms of bulk cargo nomenclature handled in June of 2009 and 2008, the growth was recorded in handling of agricultural products (+60,8 thousand tons, 155,1 thousand tons handled, change +64,6 %), and commercial minerals and construction materials (+34,9 thousand tons, 126,1 thousand tons handled, change +38,2 %). In June 2009 the biggest drop was recorded in handling of metal scrap (-79,3 thousand tons, 4,8  thousand tons handled, change –45,2 %), ferroalloys (-40,8 thousand tons, 20,1 thousand tons handled, change –67,0 %) and fertilizers (-413,8 thousand tons, 289,0 thousand tons handled, change -58,9 %), comparing to the same period of 2008.
 
In May 2009, in terms of general cargo nomenclature, a growth was recorded only in handling of packed fertilizers (+11,5 thousand tons, 37,4 thousand tons handled, change +44,5 %).  The biggest drop in handling figures was recorded for containers (in terms of tonnage) (-111,8 thousand tons, 222,8 thousand tons handled, change –33,4  %), timber (-32,2 thousand tons, 24,2 thousand tons handled, change -57,1 %), iron- and steel-ware (-17,4 thousand tons, 24,7 thousand tons handled, change –41,4 %).

In June 2009, the turnover of container units (TEU) in the port decreased by 43,1 % as compared to June 2008 (18 754 TEU handled in June 2009, change -14 186 TEU). Handling of Ro-Ro units decreased by -19,7 % (15 112 units handled in June 2009, change -3 717 units).

In June 2009, 36,7 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda, i.e. by 9,9% less than in the corresponding period of 2008.

Cargo handling figures in Butinge Terminal in June 2009 decreased by 1/5  and amounted to 707,7 thousand tons.