OREANDA-NEWS. April 07, 2014. The aggregate throughput of Klaipeda Port and at Butinges terminal in January – February of 2014 totalled 6,5 mln. tn of seaborne cargo: 5,5 mln. tn were handled in Klaipeda Seaport (the year-on-year change was -10,8 pct. or -662,3 thou. tn) and 1 mln. tn were handled at Butinges Terminal (the year-on-year change was -37,2 pct. or -595,2 thou. tn).

In January – February of 2014 the best result in Klaipeda Port was achieved in the turnover of dry and bulk cargo: totally 2 494,1 thou. tn, i.e. more by +0,7 pct. than within the period of two first months  of 2013 were handled. This result was achieved due to increased (+5,2 pct.) throughput of bulk natural and chemical fertilizers : 1 257,1 thou. th were handled (the yoy change was +62,1 thou. tn).

The handling rates of other categories of cargo making impact on the throughput of this cargo group also showed the increase: ore (218,7 thou. tn, +216,2 pct. or +149,6 thou. tn yoy), raw and processed minerals, construction materials (372,8 thou. tn, +18,1 pct. or +57,1 thou. tn yoy) and scrap metal (63,3 thou. tn, +185,1 pct. or +41,1 thou. tn yoy). The throughput of agriculture products that achieved the record in 2013 dramatically dropped down in January –February of the current year: 445,2 thou. tn were handled, the year-on-year change was -35,1 pct. or -241,1 thou. tn.

Decreased profitability of oil refining in the world market resulted into the gradual decrease of the overall turnover of liquid cargo : 875,4 thou. tn of oil products were transhiped in January – February of the current year (the change was -46 pct. or -744,9 thou. tn yoy). The handling rates of liquid fertilizers and molasses dropped down to 203 thou. tn (-32,7 pct. or -98,8 thou. tn yoy) and 12,9 thou. tn (-62,3 pct. or -21,3 thou. tn yoy) respectively.

In January – February of 2014 the most rapid turnover was recorded in the group of general cargo: 1 822,7 thou. tn were handled (the yoy change was +167,1 thou. tn). Such growth was determined by continuously increasing turnover of containerised cargoes that jumped up from the forth position in the overall port handling rankings to the second position:  – 871,9 thou. tn were handled (+32,9 pct) or 70 750 in terms of TEU. The handling turnover of Ro-Ro cargoes fell from the third position to the forth: 688,3 thou. tn were handled (the yoy change was -7,5 pct. or -55,5 thou. tn). The Port still has handled the large amounts of fertilizers (1 574,7 thou. tn), including the handling of packed fertilizers that increased by +36,2 pct. to 114,7 thou. tn.

Altogether 940 vessels were reported to call Klaipeda Port and Butinges terminal in January – February of 2014. 10 vessels moored at Butinges terminal. Klaipeda Seaport received 930vessels (less by -16,1 pct. or by -178 vessels comparing with the corresponding period of 2013 ).

The number of passengers within the analysed period was 34 686 passengers, i.e. more by +2,1 pct. or by 710 passengers comparing with the first two months of the previous year.