OREANDA-NEWS. March 17, 2009. During the first two months of 2009 4,28 million tons of cargo was handled in Klaipeda port, i.e. by 14,5 percent less (-0,7 mln. t) than during the same period 2008, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda port.

There decreased stevedoring volumes of all types of cargo (liquid, bulk and dry bulk) during January-February 2009.

The differences in stevedoring volumes of liquid cargo were predetermined by the decrease (- 53,8 percent) of liquid fertilizer turnover in the port (during January-February 2009, 111,78 thousand t was handled, during January-February 2008 – 242,11 thousand  t was handled, difference -130,33 thousand t). Oil products handling, comparing to the same period 2008 has slightly increased +2,4 percent (during January-February 2009 1,68 mln. t was handled, and during January-February 2008 – 1,64 mln. t, difference +39,47 thousand t).

During January-February 2009 the growth of stevedoring volumes of agricultural products was observed (+157,81 thousand t, 350,86 thousand  t was handled, difference +81,7 percent) and peat  (+19,41 thousand t, 59,35 thousand t was handled, difference +48,6 percent).

During January-February 2009 there mostly decreased  stevedoring volumes of bulk fertilizers (-223,18 thousand  t, 696,58 thousand t was handled, difference -24,3 percent), alloys (-54,75 thousand t, 29,98 thousand t was handled, difference -64,6 percent), scrap metal (-42,91 thousand t, 37,08 thousand t was handled, difference -53,6 percent), raw sugar (-24,68 thousand t, 67,52 thousand t was handled, difference -26,8 percent) and minerals and building materials (-21,44 thousand t, 80,75 thousand t was handled, difference -21,0 percent) , comparing to during January-February 2008.

Among the types of general cargo there mostly grew stevedoring volumes of packed fertilizers (+2,62 thousand t, 66,74 thousand t was handled, difference +4,1 percent). There mostly decreased containers (from the point of view of tonnage) (-156,70 thousand t, 398,05 thousand t was handled,  difference -28,2 percent), Ro-Ro cargo (from the point of view of tonnage) (-154,30 thousand t, 431,45 thousand t was handled, difference -26,3 percent) and timber (-89,72 thousand t, 52,92 thousand t was handled, difference -62,9 percent).

During January-February 2009 stevedoring volumes of containers (TEU) was by  -29,1 percent less than during January-February 2008 (during January-February 2009  41 249 TEU was handled,  difference –16 935 TEU). Ro-Ro units handling decreased by 27,6 percent (during January-February 2009  23 158 units was handled, difference –8 813 units).

During January-February 2009 23,17 thousand passengers visited the port. i.e. by 10,8 percent less than during January-February 2009.

During January-February 2009 stevedoring volumes in Butinge terminal increased by 47,1 percent and made 1,50 million tons comparing to during January-February 2008.

During January-February 2009 5,21 million t of cargo was handled in Ventspils port (during January-February 2008 – 5,43 mln. t, difference -4,0 percent). This year in Ventspils port there further on grow stevedoring volumes of liquid cargo (+4,2 percent), 3,84 mln. t was handled, and bulk and dry bulk and general cargo decreased by -17,7 percent ( 1,15 mln. t was handled) and -35,2 percent. (230 thousand t was handled) respectively, comparing to January-February 2008. 

According to the types of cargo the biggest growth was observed in handling oil products during January-February 2009  +251 thousand t (during January-February 2009  3,44 mln. t was handled), coal +223 thousand t (during January-February 2009  921 thousand t was handled)  and crude oil +20 thousand t (during January-February 2009  243 thousand t was handled).

There is significant decrease in handling fertilizers -421 thousand t (during January-February 2009, 41 thousand t was handled), ammonia -123 thousand t (during January-February 2009 127 thousand t was handled), Ro-Ro cargo -95 thousand t (during January-February 2009 133 thousand t was handled) and grain -60 thousand t (during January-February 2009 75 thousand t was handled).

The number of passengers in neighbouring ports during January-February 2009   decreased by 1 485 passengers and reached only 1 282, i.e. by 53,7 percent less than during January-February 2008. During the first two months of 2009 353 ships were served in Ventspils port (7 ships less than during January-February 2008.
 
During January-February 2009, 5,01mln. t of cargo was handled in Riga port, i.e. by 6,7 percent more that during the same period 2008. Riga port turnover further on grows due to increasing stevedoring volumes of coal (+19,4 percent) and oil products  (+42,0 percent).

Bulk and dry bulk cargo turnover during January-February 2009   made 3,27 mln. t, i.e. by 202,6 thousand t more than during January-February 2008. Analyzing the types of bulk and dry bulk cargo, the biggest growth is reached in handling coal, during 2009 2,57 mln. t are handled or by 19,4 percent more than during January-February 2008. The turnover of bulk fertilizers made 371,6 thousand t or +5,7 percent. Coal handling made 51,2 percent of the total Riga port cargo turnover.

Liquid cargo volumes in Latvian port during January-February 2009,  increased by 41,5 percent and made 1,2 mln. t. Oil products handling, which makes 99,3 percent of all liquid cargo turnover, increased by 42,0 percent, 1,19 mln. t was handled.

General cargo in Riga port during January-February 2009   decreased, stevedoring volumes reached 545,1 thousand t (-30,4 percent, comparing to January-February 2008). According to the types of cargo, containerized cargo made 266,8 thousand t  (-13,1 percent), and timber - 178,3 thousand t (–51,6 percent).

During January-February 2009 48,9 thousand passengers visited Riga port and during January-February 2008 there were 35,6 thousand (difference +37,6 percent).
 
In a united Tallinn port during January-February 2009  4,71 mln. t of cargo was handled(-7,2 percent, difference comparing to January-February 2008). According to the types of cargo stevedoring volumes of bulk and dry bulk cargo decreased by 54,7 percent or by 395,7 thousand t, general cargo – by  -27,8 percent or by  -217,2 thousand t, and the volumes of liquid cargo increased by 7,2 percent or by 257,0 thousand t. The biggest part in the total cargo structure of Tallinn port made liquid cargo (80,9 percent).

During January-February 2009 399 cargo ships called Tallinn port, i.e. by 29 ships more than during January-February 2008.

This year 891,9 thousand passengers visited Tallinn port and during January-February 2008 there were 841,8 thousand (difference +6,0 percent).