OREANDA-NEWS. October 21, 2011. With the sea born totalling to 27,4 million tons Klaipeda Port’s cargo handling growth rate throughout nine month of this year was even 21,7 % up comparing with the corresponding period of the previous year, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.
 
According to cargo handling turnover in Easter Coast Baltic Ports in the period of January – September of 2011 Klaipeda Port has still remained ahead the neighbouring Ports of Riga and Ventspils but slightly left behind the Joint Port of Tallinn ((Muuga), Paldiskis, „Old City“). The advantage of the Joint Tallin Port over Klaipeda Port decreased up to 93,6 thousand tons in of January – September of 2011, whereas in the I half of 2011 this difference reached 743,6 thousand tons. The common cargo handling results of Klaipeda Port and Butinge Terminal reached 34,1 million tons in January – September of 2011 and exceeded the handling turnover of the Joint Port of Tallinn by 6,6 million tons.

The highest increase in cargo turnover throughout the period of nine month of this year comparing with the corresponding period of 2010 was reached due to increased handling volumes of bulk natural and chemical fertilizers (+1 842,5 thousand tons), liquid natural and chemical fertilizers (+933,7 thousand tons), containerized cargoes (+660,0 thousand tons), oil products (+470,8 thousand tons), Ro – Ro cargo (+461,0 thousand tons) and bulk iron ore (+391,2 thousand tons).

In terms of cargo groups the handling volumes of dry and bulk cargo were the handling turnover was 10 809,6 thousand tons (39,4 percent of all cargoes handled in the Port) increased mostly (by 26,4 percent). The handling turnover of liquefied cargo advanced by 20,7 percent to 8 267,2 thousand tons (30,2 percent). General cargo handling volumes increased by 17,2 percent, the handling volumes of this cargo group were 8 330,0 thousand tons (30,4 percent of all cargoes handled in the Port).
 
5 092 vessels, i.e. more by 6,4 percent or by 307 vessels comparing with the corresponding period of the previous yearcalled Klaipeda Port in January–September of this yearThe number of passengerscalling the Portthroughout the analysed periodwas 258 372, i.e. less by 2,4 percent comparing with the corresponding period of 2010. The number of cruise passengers in January – September of 2011 was 21 478, i.e. less by – 39,0 percent or by -13 723 passengers.
 
Klaipeda Port has further maintained its position of the leading Port in containerized cargo handling in the region of the Baltic countries. 296 794 TEU, i.e. more by 38,8 percent comparing to the corresponding periodof 2010 (the increase made83 041TEU) were handled in Klaipeda Port in January – September of 2011.