OREANDA-NEWS. February 05, 2007. Cargo handling volumes of the first month of 2008 m. has significantly exceeded the volume of the same period of 2007 in Klaipeda port. During January 2008  2,39 million tons was handled in the port, i.e. by almost 11,5 percent or  246 thousand tons more than during January 2007, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda port.

In 2008 there grew handling volumes of all types of cargo (general, bulk, dry bulk and liquid).

The growth of liquid cargo (+13,7 percent) during January 2008 was predetermined by the growth of oil products handling by 15 percent (during January 2007 681,6 thousand tons was handled, during January 2008 –783,0 thousand tons), liquid fertilizer handling volume increased by more than 4 percent in January 2007 137,1 thousand tons was handled and during January 2008 – 143,1 thousand tons).

The growth of bulk cargo handling volumes (+7,6 percent) was mostly predetermined by the growth of 6 times of peat handling (during January 2007 4,0 thousand tons was handled and during January 2008 – 23,9 thousand t), more than 3 times there increased the volumes of agricultural products handling (during January 2007 26,5 thousand tons was handled and during January 2008 – 81,9 thousand t), the turnover of alloys increased by 73,0 percent (during January 2007 16,6 thousand t was handled and during January 2008 – 28,7 thousand tons) and bulk fertilizer handling increased by 3,7 percent (during January 2007 450,2 thousand tons was handled and during January 2008 – 466,8 thousand tons).

The growth of general cargo handling volume by 2 times was predetermined the growth of timber and forestry products handling (during January 2007 35,5 thousand tons was handled and during January  2008 – 70,7 thousand tons), container handling increased by 36,9 percent (from the point of view of tonnage) (during January 2007 202,2 thousand tons was handled and during January 20087– 276,8 thousand tons) and the turnover of cold cargo increased by 17,7 percent (during January 2007 33,3 thousand tons was handled and during January 2008 – 39,2 thousand tons).

The biggest growth of cargo handling volume during January this year was fixed in handling peat (more than 6 times), agricultural products (more than 3 times), timber and forestry products (2 times), alloys (73,0 percent more) and containers (from the point of view of tonnage) (by 36,9 percent more) in comparison with the same period 2007. 0,78 million tons of oil products was handled (by 14,9 percent more).

Turnover of container units increased by 37,9 percent ( TEU), and ro-ro units handling increased by 7,5 percent.

During January 2008 the total figure of ferry passengers increased by 15,4 percent and made 14,2 thousand.

During January 2008 568 vessels called the port (by 22,9 percent more than during January 2007). Pilots helped 806 to call/leave vessels to/from Klaipeda port (including re-mooring), it is by  28,5 percent or 179 times more comparing to the same period last year.

After repair works in Butinge terminal, oil handling volume rapidly grows, during January this year 510,9 thousand tons was handled  (by 69,8 percent more).