ACTIVITIES OF KLAIPEDA AND NEIGHBOURING PORTS IN JANUARY-JULY, 2005

 

 

During January-July 2005 123 608 TEU containers were handled in the port of Klaipeda, i.e. by 33 % more than in the respective period last year.

Figure 2. Container handling in Eastern Baltic ports (TEU)

 

Favourable market conditions made influence on the handling of iron and steel products (increased + 1.8-fold; 287.8 thousand tons handled), perishable products (+ 1.6-fold; 262.9 thousand tons). Timber handling volumes remained the same as in previous year. Due to seasonal deviations (- 28 %; 40.6 thousand tons) handling of fruits and vegetables decreased.

However handling of fertilizers increased (+ 20 %; 2.24 thousand tons). Although railway tariffs of Russia that are applied to the Baltic countries are not favourable, the modernization of Klaipeda port lead to the increase of fertilizers exports from Russia.

Handling of grain (+ 4.4-fold; 279.5 thousand tons), cement (+ 35 %; 110.0 thousand tons), soy (+ 7 %; 78.6 thousand tons) still increases, however, handling of minerals (- 11 %; 532.1 thousand tons), peat (- 9 %; 46.8 thousand tons – due to seasonal deviations), sugar (- 7 %; 519.9 thousand tons) decreases.

 

Although handling of fertilizers during January-June this year increased by 49 % in comparison with the same period last year, however, the decrease in oil handling had the direct influence on the volumes of liquid cargo handling.

 

During seven months this year 90.1 thousand road transport vehicles were carried by ferries, i.e. by 3 % or 2.9 thousand units more than in the same period last year; railway wagons – 3.5 thousand units, i.e. 18 % less (797 units) than previous year.

 

During January-July 2005 services were provided to 100.9 thousand passengers, i.e. 20 % more than last year.

 

Butinge SPM handled 3.0 million tons of crude oil during January-July 2005.

 

Neighbouring ports

 

During January-July 2005 31.99 million tons of cargoes were handled in the port of Petersburg, i.e. by 18 % more than last year. Increase is recorded according to all types of cargo, except coal (1.85 million tons) and grain (0.26 million tons) handling, respectively by 10 % and by 45 % less. Oil handling comprises 26.2 % of the total cargo handling, respectively oil handling made + 29 % (8.4 million tons). Handling of metal increased by 5 % (up to 5.2 million tons), timber – by 15 % (2.2 million tons), refrigerated cargo – by 10 % (up to 2.0 million tons).

 

Handling of crude oil increased by 40 % in the port of Primorsk and during January-July 33.0 million tons of oil were handled.

 

During January-July 2005 23.16 million tons of cargoes were handled in the port of Tallinn, i.e. by 3.4 % more than in the same period in 2004. The increase was secured by the handling of bulk cargo (up to 3.9 million tons or by 15.2 % more), liquid cargo (up to 16.0 million tons or by 3.4 % more) as well as Ro-ro (1.8 million tons) and containers (0.6 million tons), respectively + 9.4 and + 5.3. Handling of the other general cargo decreased by 37.8 % (0.8 million tons).

 

In June 2005 17.65 million tons of cargoes were handled in the port of Ventspils, i.e. by 1.7 % more than in the same period last year. Handling of crude oil decreased by 87 % (up to 224 thousand tons) as it was not handled in May-July 2005; handling of Ro-ro cargo decreased as well – up to 135 thousand tons (by 48 % less). Increase was observed in handling of oil products (by 12 % – up to 10.3 million tons), fertilizers (by 12 % – up to 3.1 million tons). The biggest increase was recorded in handling of coal that made by 27 % more, i.e. 2.6 million tons more than last year.

 

During January-July 2005 14.31 million tons of cargoes were handled in the port of Riga, i.e. by 2.7 % more than last year. More than 43 % of the total handling in the port of Riga makes the handling of coal, the handling of which increased by 14.7 %, i.e. up to 6.1 million tons.

Increase is recorded in the handling of fertilizers (bulk) by 21 % – up to 909 thousand tons, Ro-ro cargo (+39 %; 432 thousand tons). Handling of containers made 91 192 TEU, i.e. by 2 % less than last year; handling of timber decreased (- 11.0 %; up to 2.4 million tons) as well as oil products (- 21.9 %; up to 2.0 million tons).

 

During seven months of 2005 8.83 million tons of cargoes were handled in the port of Kaliningrad, i.e. by 12 % more than last year. A considerable increase is observed in handling of containers (+ 51 %; 56 821 TEU), Ro-ro (+ 24 %; 54.9 thousand tons), ferrous metals (+ 12 %; 1.3 million tons), oil products (+ 12 %; 5.23 million tons).