OREANDA-NEWS. Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group (NCSP Group or the Group) (LSE: NCSP, Moscow Exchange: NMTP) announces today that its consolidated cargo turnover in January 2014 amounted to 10.9 million tonnes.

PJSC NCSP CEO Yuri Matvienko commented on January results: "Changes in group's cargo traffic in the first month of 2014 versus January 2013 were dominated by trends like continuing redirection of crude oil exports, substantial rebound in grain with a low base effect, and adverse weather conditions, which affected bulk and general cargo volumes by complicating railcars unloading and ship loading operations".

Liquid cargo

Liquid cargo in January 2014 totalled 8,823 ths tonnes, including 6,351 ths tonnes of crude oil; 2,380 ths tonnes of oil products; 55 ths tonnes of UAN; and 37 ths tonnes of seed oils.

Crude oil volumes were down by 1,900 ths tonnes versus that of January last year, of which 1,703 ths tonnes accounted for the reduction at the port of Primorsk. This decrease is driven mainly by increased throughput via alternative crude export routes and growing crude consumption by Russian refineries. Oil products handling increased by 78,1 ths tonnes or by 3.4%.

Bulk cargo

Bulk cargo handling in January 2014 comprised 730 ths tonnes. Strong growth trend in backed by rebounding grain volumes, which reached 378 ths tonnes, exceeding nine times the volume of January 2013, when grain exports virtually ceased due to poor crop and high prices on the domestic market. Raw sugar volumes continue growth on the back of local supplies shortage and increased transit shipments.

General cargo

General cargo volumes in January 2014 amounted to 990 ths tonnes, in line with January 2013. Handling of ferrous metals and pig iron comprised 842 ths tonnes, exceeding that of January 2013 by 41 ths tonnes. Non-ferrous metals volumes were down by 33 ths tonnes due to weak global demand and increased consumers' inventory before the New Year.

Containers

NCSP Group's container throughput in January 2014 totalled 48.7 ths TEU.