St. Petersburg port increases container throughput

In 2007, throughput of the port of St. Petersburg was not a surprise. In general, handling volumes grew by 10%, though it didn’t help to overpass the level of 60 million tonnes. The highest growth was demonstrated in the sector of dry bulk and loose bulk cargo, while the leading sector in terms of volumes is that of container handling, which confirmed its stable growth. In future, investment programs announced by the port’s stevedoring companies are to raise considerably the share of containerized cargo in the port’s total throughput.

According to St. Petersburg Sea Port Administration, in 2007, all stevedoring companies of the port handled 59.6 million tonnes of cargo (+10%, year-on-year). Containers account for the most substantial share (almost 30%) of the port’s throughput. In the reported period, the port handled 1.697 million TEU (+17% against the result of 2006, when it handled less than 1.5 million TEU). It should be noted that the growth dynamics was not as impressive as that of the previous years, when the growth rates were around 30% per year, which is to be attributed to limited capacities of container terminals not able to continue unlimited growth under current situation. However, the growth of container throughput in volumes is similar to that of the previous years and makes about 300,000 TEU per year.

The leader of St. Petersburg market (and of Russian market as well) is First Container Terminal (FCT), which handled 959,032 TEU (+7.9%, year-on-year), National Container Company reports. The terminal failed to reach the level of 1 million TEU, though it’s too early to say the terminal has exhausted all the possibilities for expansion. The company’s management announced the intent to invest $180 million into the terminal’s development, which is to raise its capacity to 1.6 million TEU.

The plans of N-Trans Group (former Severstaltrans) are even more imposing. In 2007, the group became an owner of Petrolesport OJSC, the second largest stevedoring company of St. Petersburg to handle containers. In the reported period, the company’s throughput grew by 6%, year-on-year, while the handling of containerized cargo was up 17%, to almost 370,000 TEU. Experts say the potential of Petrolesport is quite high provided that it cuts handling of other types of cargo such as timber and metal. Having completed the purchase, the new owners announced the investment program aimed at the terminal’s development to increase its throughput to 1.8 million TEU by 2015. The investment is to total $250 million.

It should be noted that in 2007 N-Trans also acquired 50% shareholding of Multi-Links Terminals Ltd Oy (operator of all container terminals of Container Finance including that of Mobi-Dick LLC in Kronshtadt), which contributes to N-Trans possibilities to develop its container business. In 2007, Mobi-Dick increased itsthroughput by one third. Both NCC and N-Trans plan to expand their capacities through development of their rear terminals located in Shushary ans Yanino respectively. In future, experts say, containerization of cargo is to continue its growth. One of the perspectives is the construction of a container terminal of Sea Port of St. Petersburg OJSC on the basis of Forth Stevedoring Company. Total investments are to exceed $360 million. The first phase is to be put into operation in 2009, while the terminal’s design capacity of 1.4 million TEU is to be reached in 2012.

Timber transshipment is gradually decreasing. According to St. Petersburg Sea Port Administration, the volume of timber handled by the port fell by 6% to 2.4 million tonnes. Sea Port of St. Petersburg has decided to implement the investment project on construction of an automobile and ro-ro cargo terminal at the territory of Timber Stevedoring Company. In the middle of the year the company was renamed Third Stevedoring Company CJSC and ceased the transshipment of timber. According to the press center of Sea Port of St. Petersburg, the group’s total throughput grew by 1.3%, year-on-year, to almost 12 million tonnes. The company does not note any considerable influence of the strike held by the dock workers of First, Second and Forth Stevedoring Companies on the final results of the Group.

In 2007, the port cut handling of ferrous and non-ferrous metal by 6% and 5% respectively. However, transshipment of ore and coal grew by 16% and 27%, respectively, though their share is not very large in total volumes. Transshipment of mineral fertilizers amounted to 6.5 million tonnes (+26%, year-on-year). 80% of this type of cargo is handled by Baltic Bulk Terminal.


In general, the development of the port of St. Petersburg reflects the global tendencies, especially in terms of containerization growth. However, all experts are at one in thinking that it is necessary to search for new port expansion reserves. In particular, Yuri Molchanov, Vice-Governor of the city, said this year the decision is to be taken on perspectives of the Bronka-Lomonosov area development to specify if a port or something else is to be built there. As of today, this territory is not included into the master plan for the port development, while a number of companies have announced the development of there projects within the area. For example, in 2007, Baltimor LLC held a presentation of its project for construction of a multi-purpose port and municipal authorities announced the intent of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) to build a container terminal there.