In January-October, 2008, the ports of Latvia handled 52.5 million tonnes of cargo (+1%, year-on-year), The Baltic Course writes with reference to Latvian Ministry of Communications. The port of Riga increased its throughput by 13.2%, year-on-year; Liepaja – 8.3%. Throughput of Ventspils port fell by 9.4%, while Latvia’s minor ports handled 9.8% lecc cargo as compared with the same period of the previous year.
In the reported period, coal transshipment grew by 23.4%. Transshipment of other cargoes decreased: mineral fertilizers – by 12.1%, oil – 25.1%, oil products – 6.6%, containers in TEU – 1.0%, ro-ro – 7.8%, timber – 23.1%, metal and metal scrap – 21.0%).
In the 10-month period, the port of Riga handled 24.28 million tonnes of cargo (+13.2%). Transshipment of loose dry cargo grew by 26.3%), liquid bulk cargo – by 4.1%). The highest growth was demonstrated by coal transshipment sector (+32.1%). Total transshipment of general cargo fell by 13.3%. However container throughput (in TEU) climbed by 0.6%, ro-ro — by 34.1%. Transshipment of timber fell by 29.4%, metal and scrap metal – by 75.4%.
The port of Ventspils handled 23.54 million tonnes of cargo (a 9.4-pct decrease, year-on-year). Transshipment of loose dry cargo fell by 5.8%, mineral fertilizers – by 22.3%, liquid bulk cargo – by 10.4%, oil – by 32%, general cargo – by 14.6%, containers in TEU – by 3.9%, ro-ro - 19.6%, timber – 21.7%, metal and scrap metal – 8.2%.
In January-October, the port of Liepaja handled 3.61 million tonnes of cargo (+8.3%). Transshipment of loose dry cargo fell by 1.1%, year-on-year. Transshipment of liquid bulk cargo amounted to 0.79 million tonnes (+20.3%, general cargo – 1.26 million tonnes (+14.4%). Transshipment of containers in TEU declined by 35.9%, timber — by 4.1%, metal and metal scrap – by 13.5%.
Latvia’s minor ports handled 1.081 million tonnes of cargo (-9.8%, year-on-year).