NCSP Group cargo throughput down 1.4 percent in Jan-Aug
Freight volume handled by the group Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP, the Group) in January-August declined by 1.4% from a year before, to 103,566,800 tons, the Group press release said. To ensure comparability with previous periods the statistics have been adjusted for the volumes handled by Primorsk Trade Port Ltd., which was acquired by NCSP Group in January 2011, the Company said.
Container traffic soared 42.6 percent from last year’s figure to 405,030 TEUs. Handling of liquid bulk rose 1.1 percent to 975.800 tons. Shipments of oil products surged by 36.3 percent to 3,156,400 tons. The growth was driven primarily by diesel and fuel oil handling at Primorsk terminal and Sheskharis Oil Terminal.
In the reporting period, grain exports totaled 1,874,800. In August, the Group’s grain terminal throughput hit a record monthly high, 989,100 tons.
Handling of iron ore and ore concentrate rose as much as 144.7% to 1,414,300 tons, of fertilizer – by 11.8% to 164,900 tons, of sugar – by 9.1% to 119,200 tons.
Eight-month volume of general cargo fell 16.4 percent from a year earlier, to 6,315.0 tons, Exports of timber slumped 52 percent (-409.500), ferrous metals volume dropped 14.7 percent (-838.200). According to NCSP Group, this was due to the reduction in purchasing activity of main consumers caused by political instability in the Middle East and Northern Africa and general market volatility.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port is the largest Russian port operator and the 3rd operator in Europe in terms of cargo turnover. NCSP shares are traded on Russia's MICEX exchange (NMTP) and on the London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs (NCSP). NCSP Group consolidated cargo turnover in the 1st quarter 2011 totaled 37.2 million tons, and consolidated revenue to IFRS for the 1st quarter 2011 totaled $233.1 million and net profit of $143.7 million. NCSP Group combines the following stevedore companies: OJSC Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port, PJSC Primorsk Trade Port (since 2011), PJSC Novorossiysk Grain Terminal, OJSC Novorossiysk Shipyard, PJSC Fleet of NCSP, OJSC NLE, OJSC IPP, and Baltic Stevedoring Company Ltd.