Russian seaports four-month traffic up 5.3 percent
Cargo throughput at Russian seaports in January-April, 2012 totaled 175.8 million tons, a 5.3-percent gain from the same period of last year, the Association of Seaports report said.
The four-month volume of dry bulk cargo was 76.6 million tons, a15.5-percent growth from a year ago. The increase was driven mainly by a 38.2% increase (2.9 mln tons) in ferry loads volume, a 17.8-percent surge (9.6 mln mt) in ferrous metal traffic, and a 12.1-percent gain (13.8 mln mt) in containerized imports / exports. Coal exports rose 9.1% year-over-year to 25.9 mln tons, grain shipments totaled 7.1 mln mt, handling of ore was down 2.3% to 2.6 mln tons, of mineral fertilizer fell 14.7% to 3.0 mln mt. The volume of unitized cargo totaled 1.3 mln tons (-39.3%), of refrigerated cargo – 11.1 mln tons (-35.2%).
The volume of liquid bulk cargo handled at the nation’s ports totaled 99.2 million tons, which represents a 1.9% decline, including crude exports, which oil dropped 5.5% to 62.7 million tons, while oil products traffic rose 5.2% to 35.6 million tons.
In the reporting period the Russian ports saw a 10.7-percent growth in exports (versus 10.9% in Jan-Mar), to 139 million tons. Imports dropped by 12.5% year-over-year to 12.9 million tons (due to an overall decline in the segment of general cargoes and sugar). A decrease in crude oil transshipments pushed the four-month transit cargo volume down to 15.2 million tons (-8.2%) and short sea traffic to 7.9 million tons (-14.7%).
In January-April, stevedore companies of the Arctic basin handled 10.9 million tons of cargo, a 25.4% decline from the same period a year ago. Shipments of dry bulk cargo grew 3.1% to 7.3 million tons, the liquid bulk volume shrank by more than twofold to 3.6 million tons. Freight traffic passing through the port of Arkhangelsk rose 20.3%, cargo handing at Dudinka port increased by 9.1%.
The Baltic Sea-based Russian ports handled 64.1 million tons of different cargoes, up 13.5% from 2011’s figure. The growth was driven by a 14.1-percent increase in dry bulk cargoes (23.8 mln mt) and a 13.1-percent gain in liquid bulk (40.3 mln mt). Cargo throughput at Primorsk terminal rose 7.0% to 26.6 million tons, cargo handling at St. Petersburg Port increased by 3.2% to 17.7 million tons, Port of Ust-Luga traffic soared 2.4 times to 11.0 million tons, thanks to commissioning of a new oil terminal and coal exports growth. The port of Vyborg handled 0.3 mln tons. Cargo traffic at the ports of Vysotsk and Kaliningrad fell 10.8% (4.1mln t) and 12% (4.3 mln t), respectively.
Handling of exports / imports at the ports of Azov-Black Sea basin in the reporting period was up to 55.0 million tons (+4.9%). Shipments of dry bulk cargo leaped 32.1% to 19.9 million tons, liquid bulk volume was down 6.0% to 35.0 million tons. Cargo throughput at the Port of Novorossiysk rose 6.7% to 40.1 million tons. The port of Taman transshipped 0,6 million tons of different cargoes. Cargo traffic at the Port of Rostov-on-Don rose 21.1% to 2.4 million tons, the port of Taganrog throughput fell 14.3% to 0.8 mln tons, cargo handling at the port of Azov rose 23.9% to 900,000 tons. The port of Yeysk handled 900,000 tons (+2%), the port Kavkaz – 1.7mln tons (+1.8%). The port of Tuapse traffic volume declined by 2.4% to 6.4 mln tons.
Cargo handling at the Caspian Sea ports totaled 3.4 million tons (+1.4%), including dry bulk cargo - 1.7 million tons (-11.7%), liquid bulk – 1.7 million tons (+18.5%). Freight traffic at the port of Astrakhan fell 12.1% to 1.1 million tons. Cargo turnover of the port of Makhachkala was up 13.2% to 2.0 million tons.
In January-April, the ports of the Far Eastern basin transshipped 42.5 million tons (+6.0%). Shipments of dry bulk cargo rose by 11.6% to 24.0 million tons. The volume of liquid bulk was slightly down 0.5% on last year’s figure (18.5 million tons). Cargo throughput at Vostochny port rose 5.6% to 13.2 million tons, at the Port of Prigorodnoye – by 1.5% to 6.0 million tons, Nakhodka port - by 8.3% to 5.4 million tons, Port of Vladivostok – by 14.9 % to 4.2 million tons, the port of Posiet – by 38.7% to 1.9 million tons, Port Vanino - by 5.5% to 6.4 million tons. Shipments of cargo through De Kastri Port dropped by 16.4% to 2.4 million tons.
Association of Commercial Sea Ports (ASOP) was founded in 1987. Currently ASOP unites more than 50 Russian organizations and enterprises of maritime transport. The Association includes commercial sea ports, forwarding and agency companies, research institutes and maritime transport schools. The outcome data of the Russian port complex is based on statistical reports, covering all stevedoring companies operating in the country.