In January-October, 2008 the Port of Klaipeda handled 25,30 million tons of cargo, i.e. by +10,8 % more in comparison to corresponding period of 2007.
There was a growth of all cargo types (liquid, dry and bulk, general) in January-October of 2008.
Turnover of liquid cargoes increased by almost 5 times. Growth of this type of cargoes resulted from significant growth in handling of oil products. In January-October, 2008 the turnover of oil products increased by 1,6 million tons more in comparison to corresponding period of 2007 (7,67 million tons were handled in January-October of 2008, while in January-October of 2007 – 6,10 million tons, increase by +25,8%). Decrease of -123,79 thousand tons (-9,4%) was recorded in handling of liquid fertilizers; 1,20 million tons were handled this year.
Increase in dry and bulk cargo turnover was influenced by significant growth in handling of bulk fertilizers by +500,4 million tons (4,92 million tons handled in January-October of this year, change +11,3 %), agriculture products by +265,6 thousand tons (1,20 million tons handled in January-October of this year, change +28,4 %), raw sugar +188,1 thousand tons (323,50 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change +2,4 karto) and ferroalloys by +85,4 thousand tons (386,87 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change +28,3 %).
In comparison to the corresponding period of last year there was also an increase in turnover of containers (in terms of tonnage) by +520,8 thousand tons (3,00 million tons handled in January-October of this year, change +21,0 %), iron- and metal ware by +47,4 thousand tons (404,79 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change +13,3 %) and packed fertilizers by +33,8 thousand tons (328,93 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change +11,5 %)
In January-October of 2008 at Klaipeda seaport handling figures decreased for the following cargoes: Ro-ro cargoes (in terms of tonnage) by -363,9 thousand tons (3,09 million tons handled in January-October of this year, change -10,5 %), timber by -141,0 thousand tons handled (562,19 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change -20,1 %), liquid fertilizers by -123,8 thousand tons (1,20 million tons handled in January-October of this year, change -9,4 %), commercial minerals and construction materials by -46,7 thousand tons (734,15 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change -6,0 %) and molasses by 40,0 thousand tons (13,81 thousand tons handled in January-October of this year, change -74,4 %).
In the 10 months of 2008 container unit handling (in terms of TEU) in Klaipeda port grew by +18,4 %, 313,8 thousand TEU handled, while ro-ro unit handling decreased by –6,0 %, 173,7 thousand units handled in comparison to January – October, 2007.
In January-October of 2008 the total number of passengers visiting the port by ferry in the first eight months has slightly dropped (-1,2 %) and amounted to 254,0 thousand.
In October of 2008, 2,14 million tons of cargo were handled at Klaipeda Port, i.e. the monthly handling figures decreased by -10,1 % in comparison to October of 2007.
Klaipeda State Seaport is the northernmost ice-free port on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.