Review of cargo handling in Klaipėda seaport, Būtingės terminal and other Eastern Coast Baltic seaports
The total throughput of Klaipėda Port and in Būtingės terminal in the Ist quarter of 2013 totalled 11,8 mln. tn of seaborne cargo, the change of cargo handling turnover was +13,9 pct. if to compare with the corresponding period of 2012. The cargo handling turnover in Klaipėda Port within the analysed period reached 9,4 mln. tn, the year-on-year change was +13,9 pct. or +1,2 mln. tn, meanwhile 2,4 mln. tn of cargo were handled at Butingės terminal, the year-on-year change being +14,0 pct. or +0,3 mln. tn, said in the press release.
Comparing with the corresponding period of 2012 the most significant growth of cargo handling volumes in January – March of 2013 was reached due to increased handling rates of dry and bulk cargoes (the growth reached 32,4 pct. comparing with the corresponding period of 2012) including agriculture products (+742,4 thou. tn yoy), natural and chemical fertilizers (+221,4 thou. tn yoy), raw sugar (bulk) (+125,1 thou. tn yoy), and raw and processed minerals and construction materials (+50,5 thou. tn yoy).
In terms of cargo groups the handling volumes of liquid cargo marked the total increase in Klaipeda Seaport and at Butingės Terminal by 13,9 pct. yoy to 5 552,0 thou. tn. The significant growth of handling rates of cargoes belonging to this cargo group has been recorded: crude oil (+14,0 pct. or +294,4 thou. tn yoy), oil products (+14,0 pct. or +294,4 thou. tn yoy), natural and chemical fertilizers (liquid) (+28,2 pct. or +102,4 thou. tn yoy) and raw sugar (molasses) (+34,3 pct. or +10,2 thou. tn yoy).
The drop of general cargo handling volumes by 5,4 pct. in Klaipeda Seaport has started from the very beginning of the year. Only 2 535,0 thou. tn were handled in January – March of 2013 ( 21,5 pct. of overall Port handling turnover). The growth of Ro-Ro cargo turnover has remained constant and has increased approx. by 1 pct. calculating in both units (59 842 units were handled) and in terms of tonnage (1 138,5 thou. tn were handled, the change was +0,1 pct or +0,9 thou. tn yoy). The handling volumes of frozen products increased as well (70,6 thou. tn were handled, the yoy change was 9,6 pct. or +6,2 thou. tn). The significant decrease of handling turnover was recorded in the cargo handling rates of the remaining cargo types attributed to this group of cargoes: -36,7 pct. of natural and chemical fertilizers (packed), -12,0 pct. of timber and forest products, -17,4 pct. of iron and steel products, -10,2 pct. of metal constructions, -4,7 pct. of containerised cargo (in terms of tonnage) if to compare with the corresponding period of 2012. The handling turnover of containerised cargoes in terms of TEU increased during the Ist quarter of 2013 and reached 95 366 TEU (+4,7 pct. or +4 270 TEU yoy).
1 612 vessels were reported to call Klaipėda Port and Būtingės terminal in January – March of 2013. 24 vessels (+14,3 pct. or more by 3 vessels yoy) moored at Būtingės terminal. Klaipėda Seaport received 1 588 vessels (less by 1,4 pct. yoy) including:
- 1 107 international vessels (less by 83 vessels or by 7,0 pct year-on-year)
- 481 domestic ships ( more by 60 ships or by 14,3 pct. yoy).
The number of passengers within the analysed period was 53 706, i.e. less by 6,2 pct. or by 3 527 passengers comparing with the corresponding period of the previous year.