Cargo throughput at state-owned Makhachkala Commercial Seaport in the first quarter of 2012 increased by 15.7% compared to January-March 2011, to 1,507,000 tons, RIA "Dagestan" reports.
Shipments of dry cargo in the reporting period amounted to 256,600 tons, of liquid bulk – 1,250,700 tons.
Port of Makhachkala is located on the west coast of the Caspian Sea in Dagestan. The year-round open port specializes in handling of crude oil, petroleum products, construction materials (crushed stone, gravel), grain, general cargo and timber. Makhachkala Port is a gateway for trade flows from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Baltic states, as well as for transit cargo shipped to / from Iran, Turkey and Central Asia. The port has the Makhachkala near-dock railyard of Makhachkala branch of the North Caucasian Railway. The major stevedore company operating at the port is FSUE "Makhachkala Commercial Seaport." In 2011, cargo throughput at the port rose 10.4% year-on-year to 5.5 million tons.