Of overall volumes the VFP handled in January 2010, 1.58 million tons were liquid bulk cargo, a 20.2% drop from the same period a year earlier. Transshipment of bulked cargo amounted to 654.000 tons or 23.4 percent growth, shipments of general commodities reached 137.000 tons, a 15.1% increase from January 2009.
The port’s data show a 8.7 percent growth in handling of iron ore, at 78.000 tons. Volumes of grain reached 104.000 tons (as much as 4.7 times over previous year period), mineral fertilizers – 65.000 tons, a 3.6 rise. The port terminal transshipped handled 1.410.000 tons of petroleum products and 360 million tons of coal.
Free Port of Ventspils is located near the mouth of the river Venta. The handling port’s facilities allow loading and off-loading of crude oil, petroleum products, liquid chemicals, fertilizers, metals, forestry and fishing products, coal, containers and Ro-Ro trailers. Dredging projects increased the port waters depths to 17.5 m, allowing at its berths the largest vessels calling at the Baltic Sea ports. The port maintains and operates nine 11.5-17.5-deep berths for handling liquid cargoes.