OREANDA-NEWS. February 11, 2009. Following cargo handling results of January 2009 in Klaipeda port, the biggest monthly oil products turnover was reached in the history of independent Lithuania – 0,95 mln. t, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda State Seaport.
 
During the first month of this year Klaipeda port handled 2,2 mln. tons of cargo, i. e. -8,7 percent or by 210,1 thousand tons less than during January 2008.

During January 2009 stevedoring volumes of liquid cargo increased by 8,4 percent, and bulk, dry bulk and general cargo decreased by 22,6 percent and 26,9 percent accordingly comparing to January 2008.

The growth of liquid cargo was predetermined by the growth of oil products handling +21,6 percent (during January 2009 952,54 thousand t was handled, during January 2008 – 783,32 thousand t, difference +169,22 thousand t). There grew stevedoring volumes of raw sugar (molasses) +64,6 percent (during January 2009 8,53 thousand t was handled, during January 2008 – 5,18 thousand t, difference + 3,35 thousand t). Liquid fertilizers turnover still decreases (during January 2009 53,53 thousand t was handled, during January 2008 – 7143,07 thousand t, difference -89,54 thousand t).

Comparing the types of bulk cargo handled during January 2009 and 2008, there grew stevedoring volumes of agricultural products (+87,21 thousand t, 171,74 thousand t was handled, difference +2,0 times) and peat (+4,87 thousand t, 28,78 thousand t was handled, difference +20,3 percent). During January 2009 there mostly decreased stevedoring volumes of bulk fertilizers (-102,17 thousand t, 366,65 thousand t, difference -21,8 percent), minerals and building materials(-38,38 thousand t, 17,98 thousand t was handled, difference -68,1 percent) and scrap metal (-33,08 thousand t, 5,67 thousand t was handled, difference -85,4 percent) comparing to January 2008.

Among the types of general cargo there mostly increased stevedoring volumes of iron and steel during January 2009 (+22,38 thousand t,  44,46 thousand t was handled, difference +2,0 times). There mostly decreased stevedoring volumes of containers (from the point of view of tonnage) (-82,10 thousand t, 194,67 thousand t was handled, difference -29,7 percent), Ro-Ro cargo (from the point of view of tonnage) (-75,09 thousand t, 205,93 thousand t was handled, difference -26,7 percent) and timber (-50,55 thousand t,  20,14 thousand t was handled, difference -71,5 percent).
Containers (in TEU) handling during January this year was less by 27,5 percent than during the same period last year (during January 2009 21.096 TEU was handled, difference – 8.003 TEU). Ro-Ro units handling decreased by 27,2 percent (during January 2009 11.689 units was handled, difference  -4.357 units).

12,71 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda port during January 2009, i. e. -10,5 percent less than during the same period  2008.
 
Butinge terminal turnover during January 2009, comparing to January 2008 increased by 37,4 percent and made 701,75 thousand tons.