OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2013. The total throughput of Klaipeda Port and in Butinges terminal in January- February of 2013 totalled 7,73 mln. tn of seaborne cargo, the total change of cargo handling turnover was +15,8 pct. if to compare with the corresponding period of 2012. 

The cargo handling turnover in Klaipeda Port within the analysed period reached 6,13 mln. tn, the year-on-year change was  +16,3 pct. or +0,86 mln.  tn, meanwhile 1,6 mln. tn of cargo were handled at  Butinges terminal, the year-on-year change making +13,9 pct. or +0,2 mln. tn.

Comparing with the corresponding period of 2012 the most significant growth of cargo handling volumes in January – February of 2013 was reached due to increased handling rates of dry and bulk cargoes (the growth reached 41,3 pct. comparing with the corresponding period of 2012) including  agriculture products (+522,4 thou. tn yoy), raw sugar (bulk)  (+134,5 thou. tn yoy),  natural and chemical fertilizers (+115,5 thou. tn yoy) and raw and processed minerals and construction materials (+93,0 thou. tn yoy).

In terms of cargo groups the handling volumes of liquid cargo marked the total increase in Klaipeda Seaport and at Butinges Terminal by 11,9 pct. yoy to 3 598,8 thou. tn.

The drop of dry and bulk cargo handling volumes by 3 pct. in Klaipeda Seaport has started from the very  beginning of the year. Only 1 654,1 thou. tn were handled in January – February of 2013 ( 27,0 pct. of overall Port handling turnover). The handling rates of cargoes belonging to this cargo group have been dramatically dropping down: the handling volumes of natural and chemical fertilizers (packed) decreased by 21,7 pct., the handling volumes of timber and forest products decreased by 20,2 pct., the handling volumes of iron, steel products and metal constructions decreased by 18,7 pct. and the handling volumes of frozen products dropped down by 10,2 pct.

The handling turnover of containerised cargoes increased by 8,3 pct. if to compare with the corresponding period of 2012, i.e. 62 879 TEU  were handled, but in terms of tonnage the handling turnover decreased by 3,3 pct. comparing with January - February of 2012. The growth of Ro-Ro cargo turnover has remained the same and has increased by 3 pct., while calculating both in units (38 580 units were handled) and in terms of tonnage (743,8 thou. tn were handled).

1124 vessels were reported to call Klaipeda Port and Butinges terminal in January – February of 2013. 16 vessels (+14,3 pct. or more by 2 vessels yoy) moored at Butinges terminal. Klaipeda Seaport received 1108 vessels (more by 9,1 pct. yoy) including:

- 740 international vessels (less by 22 vessels or by 2,8 pct year-on-year)

-  368 domestic ships ( more by 114  ships or by 0,1 pct. yoy).

The number of passengers within the analysed period was 33 976, i.e. less by 5,7 pct. or by 2 069 passengers comparing with the corresponding period of the previous year.