Cargo traffic at the Free Port of Riga (Latvia) in January-July 2011 increased by 16% compared to the same period last year, to 20.03 million tons, the Port Authority said.
Transshipment of oil products surged by 41.7% from last year’s numbers, to 4.92 million tons, handling of timber cargo fell by 4.8% to 1.63 million tons, coal volume rose by 16 1% to 7.87 million tons, shipment of grain cargo rose more than 1.5 times, to 258 200 tons, transshipment of ore increased by 17.2% to 388 000 tons, of chemical goods - by 4.5 % to 923 600 tons (including 923 100 tons of fertilizer). Handing of wood chips declined by 18.7% to 599 900 tons. Seven-month volume of metals increased by more than 1.5 times to 330 300 tons.
Container traffic rose 20.6% to 167 720 TEUs. Handling of rolling cargo decreased by 21.4% to 308 900 tons.
Freeport of Riga is situated on both banks of the River Daugava (Western Dvina). The port encompasses 6.348 ha, 13.818-m waterline. Riga port can accommodate vessels with maximum draft of 12.2 meters. The bulk of freight volumes passing through the port are transit cargoes (80%), shipped to / from the CIS countries. In 2010, cargo throughput of Port of Riga rose by 2.5% year-on-year, to 30 475 million tons.