OREANDA-NEWS. July 28, 2009. In the first half of 2009, Klaipeda Port handled 13.03 million tons of 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.

All types of cargo turnover reduced in Klaipeda port during the period from January to June of this year. (liquid, dry and bulk, general).

Changes of liquid cargo handling were affected by still reducing main liquid cargo flows: oil products – by 9,3 percent (4,69 million tons were handled in January – June 2009 and 5,17 million. tons in January – June 2008, i.e. the change makes 479,6 thousand tons), liquid fertilizers – by 34,9 percent (518,3 thousand tons in January – June 2009 and 746,3 thousand tons in January – June 2008, i.e. the change is 228 thousand tons).

The growth tendency in dry cargo turnover has been observed only in handling of agricultural products (+ 206,3 thousand tons, 829 thousand tons were handled, change +33,1 percent) and peat handling (+111,8 thousand tons, 188,9 thousand tons were handled , change +2,4 times). During the first six months the biggest drop was recorded in handling of bulk fertilizers (-924,1 thousand tons, 2,27 million tons were handled, change -28,9 percent.), ferroalloys (-172,9 thousand tons, 109,4 thousand tons were handled, change -61,2 percent) and metal scrap (-190,1 thousand tons, 114,7 thousand tons were handled, change -62,4 proc.) if to compare with a corresponding period of 2008.

In terms of general cargo nomenclature only the growth of packed fertilizers was recorded (+33 thousand tons, 191,7 thousand tons were handled, change +20,8 percent.). The biggest drop in handling figures was recorded for containers (in terms of tonnage) (-449,5 thousand tons, 1,32 million tons were handled, change - 25,6 percent), Ro-Ro cargo (in terms of tonnage) (-337,7 thousand tons, 1,50 million tons were handled, change -18,4 percent), timber (-211,8 thousand tons, 174,8 thousand tons were handled, change -54,8 percent) and iron and steel wares (-77,3 thosand tons, 185,4 thousand tons were handled, change -29,4 percent) handling.

In January – June 2009 the turnover of container units (TEU) in the port was less by -31,9 percent than during the corresponding period of 2008 (in January – June 2009 123 775 TEU was handled, change - 57 948 TEU). Handling of Ro-Ro units decreased by -21,8 percent (81 308 TEU was handled in January-June 2009, change – 22 694 units).

During the first half of the year 119,6 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda, i.e. less by 0,3 percent than in January – June 2008. During the first months of cruise season 14,9 thousand cruise passengers visited Klaipeda, i.e. more by the fifth part comparing the corresponding period of the last year. 
 
Cargo handling at Butinges terminal in January – June 2009 comparing with the corresponding period of the last year reduced by -6,0 percent and made 4,1 million tons.

Neighbouring ports
In January - June 2009, 22,61 million tons of cargo were handled in the port of St Petersburg, i.e. less by 23,5 percent comparing with the same period of 2008. The handling rate of bulk cargo in January - June 2009 dropped down by -26,5 percent (3,68 million tons were handled in the first half of 2009 and 5,0 million tons were handled in the first half of 2008), and general cargo by -28,1 percent (5,56 million tons were handled in the first half of 2009 and 7,72 million tons were handled in the first half of 2008). Handling of oil products increased slightly and reached up to 6,79 million tons (change +5,0percent).

Container handling in the port of St. Petersburg dropped down considerably (-38,1 percent). During the first half of this year 597 663 TEU were handled.

Handling of crude oil in Primorsk port slightly increased (38,42 million tons were handled, change +3,1 percent).

Cargo handling rate in Joint Port of Tallin was 15,36 million tons (change +3,8 percent comparing to January - June 2008). According to cargo type the turnover of dry and bulk cargo dropped down by -3,1 percent or – 48 thousand tons, general cargo by 28,0 percent or -808,2 thousand tons and liquid gas handling increased by 13,8 percent or +1,42 million tons. Liquid cargo constituted the biggest part in general cargo structure of Tallin port. (76,6 percent). 

1282 cargo vessels called Tallin Port in January – June 2009, i.e. more by 131 vessels comparing with a corresponding period of 2008.

3,35 million passengers visited Tallin Port this year and in January – June 2008 the number was 3,32 million (change +1,0 percent).

In January – June 2009 Ventspils Port handled 14,84 million tons of cargo (in January – June 2008 it was 14,93 million tons, change -0,6 percent).

During the first six months of this year liquid cargo handling in Ventspils Port increased by+5,6 percen, 10,34 million tons were handled, dry and bulk cargo handling dropped down -5,1 percent, the turnover of this cargo reached up to 3,84 million tons, and general cargo handling decreased by 39,1 percent, 666 thousand tons were handled comparing with January-June 2008 (1093 thousand tons were handled).

In terms of cargo nomenclature the highest growth rate was recorded in oil product handling +1165,0 thousand tons (9,47 million tons were handled in January – June 2009, change +14,0 percent) and coal handling +669,0 thousand tons (2,97 million tons were handled in January – June 2009, change +29,1 percent). Handling of fertilizers 788, 0 thousand tons (325 thousand tons were handled in January- June 2009, change -70,8 percent), ammonia – 307 thousand tons (344 thousand tons were handled in January – June 2009, change -47,1 percent), Ro-Ro cargo – 299 thousand tons (411,0 thousand tons were handled in January – June 2009, change -42,1) and crude oil 320,0 thousand tons (454,0 thousand tons were handled in January – June 2009, change -41,3 percent) has been still decreasing in Ventspils Port.

The number of passengers in the neighbouring port decreased by 6553 passengers in January – June 2009 and reached scarcely 6118, i.e. – by -51,7 percent less than it was in January – June 2008. During the first six months of the year Ventspils Port rendered services to 954 vessels (129 vessels less than during the corresponding period of 2008).
 
In January- June Riga Seaport handled 14,79 million tons of cargo, i.e., more by +3,0 percent if to compare with the corresponding period of 2008. Due to growing handling of oil products (+31,3 percent), bulk fertilizers (+13,1 percent) and coal (+13,0 percent) cargo handling in Riga Port is increasing.

The turnover of dry and bulk cargo in January – June 2009 in Riga Seaport was 9,64 million tons, i.e., +274,6 thousand tons more than in January-June 2008. Analysis of dry and bulk cargo nomenclature showed that the highest growth rate was recorded in coal handling, 7,52 million tons or +13,0 percent more than in January – June 2008(6,65 million tons) were handled in the I half of 2009. The handling of dry cargo reached up to 1031,3 thousand tons or +13,1 percent (911,9 thousand tons were handled in January – June 2008). Coal handling constituted 50,8 percent of total cargo turnover in Riga Port.

Liquid cargo turnover in the Port of Latvia during first six months increased by +30,4 percent and reached up to 3,3 million tons. Oil products handling, that constitutes 99,5 percent of total liquid cargo turnover, grew up by +31,3 percent, 3,3 million tons of cargo were handled.

General cargo turnover in Riga Seaport decreased in January – June 2009, their handling rate reached up to 1,86 million tons (by -25,0 percent as to compare with January – June 2008). In terms of general cargo nomenclature container handling made 843,6 thousand tons (-10,2 percent) and timber handling made 680,4 thousand tons (-39,4 percent).

291,3 thousand passengers visited Riga Port in January – June 2009 and the number of passengers during the corresponding period of 2008 was 181,9 thousand (change +60,2 percent). With the opening of cruise shipping season 50,8 thousand tourists visited Riga Port, i.e. twice more than last year.