OREANDA-NEWS.  January 15, 2013. The data testify that during 2012 the Klaipeda Seaport handled 35.24 million of seaborne cargo, i.e. by 1.35 million tons less or by 3.7 percent less than during 2011, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Seaport.

The cargo handling turnover – 32.24 million tons – achieved in 2012 was the second best cargo handling result in the history of Klaipeda Seaport.

The basic reasons that made the greatest impact on the changes of cargo handling in Klaipeda Seaport within the respective year were as follows:

1. More sluggish rates of import and export to (from) CIS countries

2. While assessing the container handling (TEU) results in Klaipeda Seaport it should be noted that within the period of March–June of 2011 extremely intensive import of cars carried by containers from the USA was recorded due to the fact that since the 1st of June of 2011 the higher import taxes would be implied on cars transported to Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. Therefore it is natural that when the new order took an effect the calm down of the container handling turnover has become evident. On the other hand the cargo turnover increase in the previous year demonstrates that containerisation and the demand for consumer goods have not stopped growing.

3. The less demand for fertilizers resulted into the drop down of the turnover of fertilizers in 2012.

4. The basic reason that has determined the considerable drop down of the handling of oil products in 2012 were the overhaul works performed at the petroleum refining company „ORLEN Lietuva“. The production of this company constitutes ? of all oil products handled by SC „ Klaipedos nafta“.

5. Since the beginning of 2012 the competitive shipping lines operating in the neighbouring ports have started decreasing (dumping) their prices in order to enhance their attractiveness. This factor resulted into temporary preconditions to re-distribute the part of Ro-Ro cargoes in the Baltic Sea region.

6. The changed situation in the sphere of the ownership of railway cars and platforms in Russia determined their deficiency in Klaipeda Port, therefore the part of previous Klaipeda Seaport clients transferred their operations to the seaports of Latvia as, due to more extensive export of Russian cargo via these ports, more Russian railways cars and platforms were delivered to Latvian seaports.

Records reached in 2012:

1. THE LARGEST TONNAGE CONTAINER SHIP– 277,3 metres in length, 40,00 metres in breadth, with the draft of 14,5 metres and the capacity of 5762 TEU – the container ship „MSC KRYSTAL“ was accomodated in Klaipeda Seaport on the 20th of January, 2012.

2. In July of 2012 the Seaport of Klaipeda reached the record Ro– Rocargo turnover per month (including railway cars) – 25 404 units.

3. According to preliminary data the record of port dues collected per month, i.e. 13.4 million Lt., was reached in December of 2012.