In January-May of this year, the growth in handling of all cargo types (liquid, dry and bulk, general) was recorded in Klaipeda port.
Changes in turnover of liquid cargo were influenced by continuous decrease in handling of the principal liquid cargo: oil products –9,3 proc (3,84 million tons handled in January-May, 2009, 4,24 million tons in January-May, 2008, change –394,3 thousand tons), liquid fertilizers –34,9 % (431,28 thousand tons handled in January-May, 2009, while 662,33 thousand tons – in January-May, 2008, change –231,1 thousand tons).
In January-May of this year, increase in bulk cargo turnover was recorded only for agricultural products (+145,49 thousand tons, 673,95 thousand tons handled, change +27,5 %) and peat (+103,99 thousand tons, 181,11 thousand tons handled, change by +2,3 times). During the first five months of this year the biggest drop was recorded in handling of dry fertilizers (-510,29 thousand tons, 1,98 million tons handled, change –20,5 %), ferroalloys (-132,11 thousand tons, 89,35 thousand tons handled, change –59,7 %) and scrap metal (-110,77 thousand tons, 109,86 thousand tons handled, change –50,2 %), in comparison with the corresponding period of 2008.
In terms of general cargo nomenclature in January-May 2009, the growth was recorded only in handling of packed fertilizers (+21,44 thousand tons, 154,34 thousand tons handled, change +16,1 %). Drop in handling figures continues for the following types of cargo: containers (by tonnage) (-337,68 thousand tons, 1,10 million tons handled, change –23,5 %), Ro-ro cargo (by tonnage) (-296,75 thousand tons, 1,23 million tons handled, change –19,4 %), timber (-179,60 thousand tons, 150,59 thousand tons handled, change –54,4 %) and iron and metal ware (-59,79 thousand tons, 160,72 thousand tons handled, change –27,1 %).
In January-May, 2009 handling of container units (by TEU) in the port decreased by –29,4 % in comparison to the corresponding period of 2008 (105 061 TEU handled in January-May, 2009, change –43 722 TEU). Turnover of Ro-ro units decreased by –22,3 % (66 196 units handled in January-May, 2009, change –18 977 units).
During the first five months of this year, 82 882 thousand passengers visited Klaipeda, i.e. by +4,6 % more than in January-May, 2008. During the first month of this year’s cruise season, 8 cruise ships arrived to Klaipeda that brought more than 7 thousand passengers, i.e. almost 3 times more than during the corresponding period of last year.
In comparison to the corresponding period of the last year, cargo handling figures of Butinge terminal in January-May, 2009 decreased by –1,7 % and amounted to 3,41 million tons.