The Ventspils port in north-western Latvia reloaded 12.46 million tons of cargo in the first five months of the year 2009, down by 294,000 tons or 2.3% from the same period in 2008, reported the port.
The port said that even though the cargo turnover in January-May 2009 had declined year-on-year, the actual five-month cargo turnover was 371,000 tons above the target figure. In 2009 the port has planned to reload a total of 29 million tons or 2.4 million tons monthly, informs BNS.
Liquid cargos prevailed in the cargo turnover in the first five months of this year at 8.7 million tons, up 301,000 tons from the previous year. Bulk cargos were reloaded in the amount of 3.2 million tons, and general cargos accounted for 550,000 tons of cargo turnover at the Ventspils port in January-May this year.
According to the port, oil product handling at Ventspils port amounted to 7.87 million tons, followed by coal and crude oil – 454,000 tons.
Ferry lines operating out of Ventspils port carried 4,771 passengers, 2,069 passenger cars and 13,044 units of cargo with total weight of 341,400 tons in the first five months of 2009.
Ventspils port in the first four months of this year was the largest Latvian port by cargo handling.