Russian seaports three-month traffic volume rises 5.3 percent
In January-March 2012, cargo throughput at Russian seaports grew 5.3 percent year-on-year to 127.3 million tons, the Association of Sea Ports said.
The three-month volume of dry bulk cargo was 54.7 million tons, a16.9-percent gain from a year ago. The increase was driven mainly by a 39.8% increase in ferry loads volume, a 35.3-percent surge (1.3 mln mt) in nonferrous metal traffic, a 16.5-percent gain in containerized imports / exports. Coal exports rose 13.7% year-over-year to 18.7 mln tons, grain shipments totaled 4.7 mln mt, handling of ore was up 5.2% to 1.9 mln tons, of ferrous metals – by 14.1% to 6.8 mln mt. Export of scrap metals increase by 11.8% to 700,000 tons. Timber cargo volume was up 1.9% to 1.4 mln mt.
Shipment of mineral fertilizer fell 20.7% to 2.2 million tons. The three-month volume of liquid bulk cargo handled at the nation’s ports totaled 72.6 million tons (-1.9%), including crude exports, which oil dropped 7.6% to 45.4 million tons, and oil products fell 8.3% to 26.6 million tons.
In the reporting period the Russian ports saw a 10.9-percent growth in exports (versus 10.7% in Jan-Feb), to 101 million tons. Imports dropped by 10.5% year-over-year to 9.4 million tons (due to an overall decline in the segment of general cargoes). A decrease in crude oil transshipments pushed the three-month transit cargo volume down to 11.1 million tons (-10.7%). Handling of shore sea traffic fell 15.5% to 5.8 million tons.
The three-month volume of dry bulk cargo was 54.7 million tons, a16.9-percent gain from a year ago. The increase was driven mainly by a 39.8% increase in ferry loads volume, a 35.3-percent surge (1.3 mln mt) in nonferrous metal traffic, a 16.5-percent gain in containerized imports / exports. Coal exports rose 13.7% year-over-year to 18.7 mln tons, grain shipments totaled 4.7 mln mt, handling of ore was up 5.2% to 1.9 mln tons, of ferrous metals – by 14.1% to 6.8 mln mt. Export of scrap metals increase by 11.8% to 700,000 tons. Timber cargo volume was up 1.9% to 1.4 mln mt.
Shipment of mineral fertilizer fell 20.7% to 2.2 million tons. The three-month volume of liquid bulk cargo handled at the nation’s ports totaled 72.6 million tons (-1.9%), including crude exports, which oil dropped 7.6% to 45.4 million tons, and oil products fell 8.3% to 26.6 million tons.
In the reporting period the Russian ports saw a 10.9-percent growth in exports (versus 10.7% in Jan-Feb), to 101 million tons. Imports dropped by 10.5% year-over-year to 9.4 million tons (due to an overall decline in the segment of general cargoes). A decrease in crude oil transshipments pushed the three-month transit cargo volume down to 11.1 million tons (-10.7%). Handling of shore sea traffic fell 15.5% to 5.8 million tons.
In January-March, stevedore companies of the Arctic basin handled 8.1 million tons of cargo, a 25.5% decline from the same period a year ago. Shipments of dry bulk cargo grew 3% to 5.3 million tons, the liquid bulk volume shrank by more than twofold to 2.8 million tons. Freight traffic passing through the port of Arkhangelsk rose 22%, cargo handing at Dudinka port increased by 17.7%.
The Baltic Sea-based Russian ports handled 46.6 million tons of different cargoes, up 19.4% from 2011’s figure. The growth was driven by a 23.4-percent increase in dry bulk cargoes (17.4 mln mt) and a 17.1-percent gain in liquid bulk (29.2 mln mt). Cargo throughput at Primorsk terminal rose 11.4% to 19.7 million tons, cargo handling at St. Petersburg Port increased by 10.6% to 13.1 million tons, Port of Ust-Luga traffic soared 2.6 times to 7 million tons, thanks to commissioning of a new oil terminal and coal exports growth. The port of Vysotsk’s throughput was up 4.6% to 3.2 million tons, port of Vyborg handled 300,000 tons. Cargo throughput at the ports of Kaliningrad fell 7.3% to 3.2 million tons.
Handling of exports / imports at the ports of Azov-Black Sea basin in the reporting period slightly declined to 38.8 million tons (-1%) 24 9 million tons. Shipments of dry bulk cargo grew to 13.3 million tons (+24.2%), liquid bulk volume was down 10.5% to 25.4 million tons. Cargo throughput at the Port of Novorossiysk rose by 3.4% to 29.2 million tons. The port of Taman transshipped 300,000 tons of different cargoes. Cargo traffic at the Port of Rostov-on-Don fell 12.7% to 1.2 million tons, the port of Taganrog throughput plummeted by 33% to 500,000 tons, cargo handling at the port of Azov was down 19.9% to 400,000 tons. Severe winter conditions in the Azov Sea pushed cargo throughput figure down at the ports of Yeysk and Temryuk (-24.9%, - 28.5%), which handled 400,000 tons.
Cargo handling at the Caspian Sea ports toteld 2.4 million tons (-5.8%), including dry bulk cargo - 1.1 million tons (-25.4%), liquid bulk – 1.3 million tons (+22.6%). Freight traffic at the port of Astrakhan fell 28.2% to 0.7 million tons. Cargo turnover of the port of Makhachkala was up 15.1% to 1.5 million tons.
In January-March, the ports of the Far Eastern basin transshipped 31.5 million tons (+7.6%). Shipments of dry bulk cargo rose by 14.5% to 17.6 million tons. The volume of liquid bulk was flat on last year’s level (13.9 million tons). Cargo throughput at Vostochny port rose 8.9% to 9.9 million tons, at the Port of Prigorodnoye – by 2.9% to 4.5 million tons, Nakhodka port - by 10.7% to 4.1 million tons, Port of Vladivostok – by 15.9 % to 3.1 million tons, the port of Posiet – by 1.5 times to 1.4 million tons, Port Vanino - by 3.8% to 4.5 million tons. Shipments of cargo through De Kastri Port dropped by 16.6% to 1.8 million tons.
Association of Commercial Sea Ports (ASOP) was founded in 1987. Currently ASOP unites more than 50 Russian organizations and enterprises of maritime transport. The Association includes commercial sea ports, forwarding and agency companies, research institutes and maritime transport schools. The outcome data of the Russian port complex is based on statistical reports, covering all stevedoring companies operating in the country.