Cargo turnover in Latvian ports decreased by 0.9% in January 2009
Cargo turnover at ports in Latvia amounted to 5.577 million tons in January 2009, which is 0.9% drop, compared with the results of January 2008, according to the Transport Ministry's data.
The only port in Latvia, which registered increase in cargo turnover, was the Freeport of Riga. There were 2.6 million tons of cargo handled at the capital city port in January, a 12.4% increase on the January 2008 figure.
The Port of Liepaja handled 249,800 tons of cargo, which is 40.2% year-on-year decrease, in January last year the port handled 417,900 tons of cargo.
Also the volume of cargo handled at the Port of Ventspils dropped, it totalled 2.63 million tons or 5.2% less than in January 2008.
Liquid cargo represented the bulk of unloaded, 2.63 million tons were handled at ports in Latvia in January, which is 13.6% year-on-year increase.
On the other hand, the volume of bulk cargo loaded and unloaded at ports of Latvia shrunk 5.4% and totalled 2.38 million, the largest part of which was coal cargo. In January 2008, ports of Latvia handled 1.77 million tons of coal cargo, 22% more than in January 2008. On the contrary, the volume of other types of bulk cargo handled shrunk. The volume of chemical products' bulk cargo handled plunged by 58.4% to 199,200 tons.
114,900 tons of woodchips were loaded and unloaded, or 6.8% less than in January 2008.
In January this year, the volume of general cargo handled amounted to 551,100 tons, which is 29.1% drop, compared with results of January 2008. Volume of cargo in containers handled totaled 551,100 or 29.1% less than in the same period last year. Ports in Latvia have taken in 15,134 TEUs less than in January 2008, registering a 17.6% drop.
As reported, last year ports in Latvia handled 63.64 million tons of cargo, which is 1.9% more than in 2007.