OREANDA-NEWS. October 03, 2011. During eight months of this year Klaipeda port handled  24,5 million tons of marine cargo, the total growth in handling figures amounted even to 22,4 %, in comparison to the corresponding period of the last year, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda port.

By cargo handling results at the ports of Eastern Baltic in January-August, 2011, Klaipeda port keeps running ahead of the neighbouring ports – Riga and Ventspils, being just with a slight advance outrun by the port of Tallinn (uniting the harbours of Muuga, Paldiski, „Old City“). The gap between the port of Tallinn and Klaipeda port has decreased to 368,7 thous. tons in January-August, 2011, while in the 1st half of 2011 this gap amounted to 743,6 thous. tons. The total cargo handling figures of Klaipeda port and Butinge terminal amounted to 30,3 mln. t in January-August, 2011  and exceeded cargo handling results of  united port of Tallinn by  5,5 mln. t.

The largest growth in cargo handling figures in eight months of this year, in comparison to the corresponding period of 2010, resulted from increase in handling figures of bulk natural and chemical fertilizers (+1 726,0 thous. tons), liquid natural and chemical fertilizers (+806,3 thous. tons), containerized cargo (+618,9 thous. tons), oil products (+451,0 thous. tons), Ro-Ro cargo (+434,8 thous. tons), bulk ores (+359,5 thous. tons).

By cargo types, the largest growth (27,2 %) was recorded in handling of dry and bulk cargo ? 9 603,1 thous. tons (39,2 % of the total turnover at the port) . Turnover of liquid cargo increased by 20,3%, cargo volumes in  this cargo group  amounted to 7 437,2 thous. tons (30,4 %). General cargo handling figures have also increased by 18,6 %, and amounted in total  to 7 451,4 thous. tons (30,4 % of the total cargo turnover at the port).

4 466 ships called at Klaipeda port in January-August, 2011, i.e. by 6,7 % or by 281 ships more than in the same period of the last year. During the reporting period, 227,7 thous. passengers visited the port, i.e. by 3,6 % less than during the corresponding period of 2010 (including 18,1 thous. passengers of cruise liners that arrived in January-August, 2011, i.e. -44,4 % or by -14,5 thous. passengers less  than during the same period last year).
 
Port of Klaipeda keeps position of the leader by handling figures of containerized cargo. In January-August of this year, it handled 269 082 TEU, i.e. by 43,0 % more than in the corresponding period of the last year (growth ? by 80 889 TEU).