Russian ports throughput set to hit record high, experts say
Cargo traffic at Russian ports is expected to touch a record volume, at least 560 million tons by this year-end, Maritime Bureau NT told PortNews. According to its forecast, this will be an increase of 5% year-over-year.
In Russia’s northwest region, cargo volumes are forecasted to reach some 5%, or about 238 million tons. The largest gain will be provided by the Port of Ust-Luga – traffic volume there may reach 45 million tons, or a twofold increase from a year earlier. Cargo traffic growth will be achieved mainly due to the commissioning of crude oil handling facilities.
Experts predict a 20-percent decline at the ports of Murmansk and a 50-percent slump at Varandey terminal, which is attributed to a reduction in oil production at Varandey field and as a consequence of a sharp fall in the volume shipped through FSO Belokamenka based in Murmansk.
The ports of Vysotsk and Kaliningrad will likely see cargo volumes decline, at 10-11% year-on-year.
In the Black Sea region, the ports are expected to handle 180 million tons, a nearly 4-percent gain. The throughput increase will most likely be driven largely by cargo handling at the port of Novorossiysk – up 3.5% year-on-year, about 120 million tons.
The ports of Rostov, Azov and Kavkaz are also expected to see a significant growth: 25%, 20% and 8%, accordingly.
The Russian ports in the Caspian basin will achieve a 8% gain in cargo volume, up to 11 million tons, thanks to traffic growth at the port of Makhachkala.
Freight traffic passing through the Far East ports may rise by 5% to 131 million tons, while handling of exports / imports at the port of Vladivostok will grow by 13-14% (mainly due to the preparation for the the APEC Summit-2012). Port of Nakhodka throughput could rise 12%.
There will be 5% and 3% gain in cargo volumes at Vostochny port and Prigorodnoye. The Port De-Kastri will see a 15% drop due to the fall in oil production on Sakhalin-1 project, the experts said.