The total volume of cargo turnover at the Freeport of Ventspils decreased by 10.7% or 2.5 million tons in the first nine months the year 2008, compared with the results in the respective period last year, as Ventspils Freeport board deputy chairman Janis Vitolins informed a press conference at the Ventspils City Council yesterday.
Vitolins said that altogether 21.3 million tons of cargo was transshipped at Ventspils Freeport during the first nine months of this year, and at the moment it looks that the cargo turnover target for this year – 29 million tons – will not be reached by the end of the year.
This year the volume of cargo transshipments has decreased for all types of cargo, but handling of mineral fertilizers and oil products decreased the most at the port, however, the situation in September, compared with August, already started to improve. "We hope that we have already passed the lowest point," Vitolins said.
Three companies operating at the Port of Ventspils, actually registered increases in cargo turnover, compared with the first nine months of 2007. The cargo turnover of Ventamonjaks serviss increased by 24%, Ventspils tidzniecibas osta (Ventspils Commercial Port) cargo turnover grew by 4% and cargo turnover of Ventspils Grain Terminal increased by 18%. All other Ventspils Freeport enterprises, however, registered decreases in cargo turnover.
The drop in the volume of oil products handled at the port can be explained by the fact that in September, due to repair works, the Ventspils-Novopolotsk diesel fuel pipeline was closed for 15 days. Normally a half of diesel fuel received at the port is delivered via this pipeline, Vitolins added.
Other ports have not reported their nine-month data yet, therefore the situation in Ventspils cannot yet be compared with the results of other ports.
Vitolins said that altogether 21.3 million tons of cargo was transshipped at Ventspils Freeport during the first nine months of this year, and at the moment it looks that the cargo turnover target for this year – 29 million tons – will not be reached by the end of the year.
This year the volume of cargo transshipments has decreased for all types of cargo, but handling of mineral fertilizers and oil products decreased the most at the port, however, the situation in September, compared with August, already started to improve. "We hope that we have already passed the lowest point," Vitolins said.
Three companies operating at the Port of Ventspils, actually registered increases in cargo turnover, compared with the first nine months of 2007. The cargo turnover of Ventamonjaks serviss increased by 24%, Ventspils tidzniecibas osta (Ventspils Commercial Port) cargo turnover grew by 4% and cargo turnover of Ventspils Grain Terminal increased by 18%. All other Ventspils Freeport enterprises, however, registered decreases in cargo turnover.
The drop in the volume of oil products handled at the port can be explained by the fact that in September, due to repair works, the Ventspils-Novopolotsk diesel fuel pipeline was closed for 15 days. Normally a half of diesel fuel received at the port is delivered via this pipeline, Vitolins added.
Other ports have not reported their nine-month data yet, therefore the situation in Ventspils cannot yet be compared with the results of other ports.