OREANDA-NEWS. July 29, 2009. According to the data of the Central Statistical Bureau, cargo turnover at ports of Latvia in the 1st half of 2009 was 32.3 mln tons, which is 0.3% more if compared to the first 2 quarters of 2008. 

In the 1st half of 2009 30.2 mln tons of cargo were loaded at ports which is more by 3.2% than in first six months of 2008.

In the 1st half of 2009 12.4 mln tons of oil products were loaded at ports, which is 14.1 % more compared to 1st half of 2008. Volume of coal loaded comprised 10.5 mln tons which is an increase of 17.3%, the volume of grain and grain products – 1 mln tons (increase of 2.7%). The volume of other main cargo loaded has decreased. 1.4 mln tons of timber were loaded at ports which is less by 28.1% if compared to the first half of 2008 and 1.4 mln tons of mineral fertilisers were loaded at ports which is a decrease of 30.6%.

In the 1st half of 2009 2.1 mln tons of cargo were unloaded at the ports which is less by 29.2 % than in the 1st half of 2008.

Oil products and cargo in containers represented the bulk of cargo unloaded: 0.5 mln tons and 0.4 mln tons. The volume of unloaded oil products grew 1.8 times if compared to the 1st half of 2008. In its turn, the volume of other main cargo loaded reduced: cargos in containers – by 32.6%, roll on/roll off cargos – by 24.6%, crude oil – by 36.3%.

In the 1st half of 2009 14.8 mln tons of cargo were loaded and unloaded at the port of Ventspils which is less by 0.7 % than in the 1st half of 2008. The volume of cargo loaded rose by 1.3 % and comprised 14 mln tons, but the volume of cargo unloaded reduced by 26.3 %.

If compared to the same period of 2008, the cargo turnover at the port of Riga in the first half of 2009 has increased by 3% and reached 14.8 mln tons. 13.8 mln tons of cargos were loaded at the port of Riga, which is 7.3 % more than in the first half of previous year. In its turn the volume of cargo unloaded comprised 1 mln tons which is less by 33.7 % than in the same period of previous year.

Cargo turnover at the port of Liepaja in the 1st half of 2009 was 2.1 mln tons, and this is a decrease of 8.1% if compared to the 1st half of 2008. 1.8 mln tons of cargos were loaded at the port of Liepaja – a decrease of 7.3%. The volume of cargos unloaded at ports has reduced by 13.2 %.

The volume of cargos loaded and unloaded at the minor ports was 0.6 mln tons, a drop of 8.1% if compared to the 1st half of 2008.

The passenger turnover at the passenger port of Riga in the 1st half of 2009 has increased. There were 291.3 thsd passenger arrivals at and departures from the port, an increase of 59.7% if compared to the 1st half of 2008.

In the 1st half of 2009 passenger turnover at the port of Ventspils was 6.1 thsd, but at the port of Liepaja – 8 thsd passengers.