OREANDA-NEWS. October 20, 2010. The Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group (LSE: NCSP, RTS and MICEX: NMTP) hereby reports its consolidated operating results for January-September 2010. In the reporting period NCSP Group’s cargo turnover amounted to 62 671.4 thousand tons, which is by 3.9% (2 574.3 thousand tons) less than in the same period of 2009.

Commenting on the operating results for January-September of 2010 CEO of NCSP Group Igor Vilinov said, that "Over the last nine months NCSP’s overall volumes dynamics were shaped by two major factors. On the one hand, the grain export ban alone resulted in losing almost a million tons of cargo traffic. On the other hand, volatile crude oil volumes also affected the total turnover in a negative way".

"When viewing NCSP operating performance isolated from these two factors we can speak of stable cargo volumes and positive changes in the cargo mix, such as growing share of priority cargoes, including containers, which nearly doubled in volume", -- Igor Vilinov also added.

Liquid cargo volumes in January-September 2010 have reduced by 5.4% (2 376.0 thousand tons) – versus January-September last year.

Volumes of crude oil and refined products at Sheskharis terminal have reduced by 3.4% in the reporting period versus nine months of 2009, while cutbacks in crude oil were partially offset by growing volumes of fuel oil. Lowering of export duties on crude and refined products in October versus September, anticipated by the market, has also negatively impacted September volumes.

Bulk cargo volumes during nine months of 2010 versus same time of 2009 decreased by 11.1 % (1 244.1 thousand tons).

Volumes of mineral fertilizers increased by 503.3 thousand tons (48.0%) compared to same period last year thanks to sustainable high market demand for this cargo. Handling of raw sugar in Q3 2010 has also grown by 233.9 thousand tons (21.2%) versus Q3 of 2009.

Volumes of iron ore and ore concentrate in the reporting period continued to rebound and totaled 1 268.0 thousand tons for three quarters of 2010, while average monthly volumes of this cargo in September-August remained at 300 thousand tons.

Export of grain from the Russian Federation was officially banned from 15 August 2010, which conditioned the total decrease of grain volumes in the reporting period by 962.9 thousand tons versus same period last year.

General cargo traffic in the reporting period versus January-September 2009 remained practically on the same level. In the meantime volumes of non-ferrous metals, timber, and perishable cargo increased by 28.3% (181.3 thousand tons), by 29.9% (198.5 thousand tons), and by 85.0% (77.1 thousand tons) respectively.

In the reporting period container traffic at all terminals of NCSP Group totaled 325.8 thousand TEU, exceeding the volume of same period last year by 153.6 thousand TEU or by 89.2%.