OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2009. „Taking into consideration the variety of the types of cargo in Klaipeda port, the dependence on presently handled transit cargo has lessened, and the dependence on expensive and the biggest value added creating general cargo has increased and non-ecological cargo – coal – is not handled in the port at all, during the first eight months we can observe the decrease of the volumes of cargo by 13,7 percent. But its worth mentioning the fact that comparing Klaipeda port turnover of the first and the second quarter of this year, cargo turnover is growing. Besides, comparing the revenues of the Port Authority during the respective periods of this year, the fall of only 4,8 percent can be observed“, – said Director General of the Port Authority Eugenijus Gentvilas, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.

Turnover
During January-August 2009 17,84 million tons of seaborne cargo was handled in Klaipeda port, i. E by. – 13,7 percent less  or by 2,83 million tons less than during the same period 2008.

Revenue
During January-August 2009 the revenues of SE Klaipeda State Seaport Authority made 81,31 million Lt, i. e. by – 4,8 percent or by 4,12 million Lt less than during the same period 2008.
 
More about the reasons, predetermining cargo handling results of Klaipeda port you may find at :
 1. Klaipeda port handles expensive and the biggest value added giving general cargo (44,1 percent in 2009), and their demand is predetermined by  the changes in economics of our country and the neighbouring states. Comparison – in Riga port in 2009 the share of general cargo makes 24,1 percent, in Tallinn port – 23,2 percent, in Ventspils port – 8,6 percent. The consumption of this type of cargo decreases mosto f all together with the slow down of economics and vice versa, their demand starts to grow rapidly when economics is getting stronger. For example, in 2007 the turnover of general cargo, comparing to 2006, increased in Klaipeda port by 18,3 percent (+1,46 million tons), and this year the turnover of this type of cargo is by 23,1 percent (- 1,45 million tons) less than during the same period last year. 

As the types of cargo of Kaliningrad, Klaipeda and Saint Petersburg ports differ slightly (in all ports expensive – general cargo makes a great share of the total turnover), in those ports the biggest negative changes can be observed in 2009 (in Kaliningrad port -26,4 percent, Saint Petersburg port -21,6 percent, Klaipeda port -13,7 percent).
 
2. Klaipeda port is the least dependent from transit cargo (not Lithuanian import/export). Transit cargo handling is of increased risk as national transport system companies make a limited influence on such cargo to be attracted to their ports. The biggest influence for the routes of this type of cargo, falls on transport policy of the countries via which territory the cargo is being transported by land. According to the results of the first half-year of 2009 Tallinn port handled ~90 percent of transit cargo, Ventspils port ~87 percent, Riga port ~84 percent, Klaipeda port – only 36 percent. The bigger part of transit cargo in Latvian and Estonian ports make raw materials (minerals) – oil products and coal.
 
3. Klaipeda port does not handle coal at all.