Freeport of Riga cargo turnover up 13,2% to 3,23 million tons in January 2014
In January of 2014 the performance of the Freeport of Riga was much better than in January 2013 - total cargo turnover increased by 13,2%, reaching 3,23 million tons. The result is outstanding compared to other Baltic ports: there was a considerable turnover decline in Ventspils - 3,4%; Klaipeda -15,3%; Butinge – 49,9%; Liepaja – 31,9%, with the only exception - Tallinn had positive growth (+ 0,2%), the company said in its press release.
56,3% increase in liquid bulk cargo segment
The largest increase - of 56,3%, - is in liquid bulk segment, the total amount being 990 thousand tons. Mr. Andris Ameriks, the Chairman of the Freeport of Riga Board: “The growth of the oil product turnover can be attributed to the previous investment into cargo storage and handling infrastructure development, that enables the terminal owners to attract new clients. We hope that the coming months will be as good for the liquid cargo segment.”
New trends in dry bulk cargo segment
Dry bulk segment has traditionally been the major cargo segment at the Freeport of Riga, and this year it has managed to maintain its leading position as well. In general 1,72 million tons of cargo were handled in this segment or by 0,7% more than in the beginning of the previous year.
The biggest share of this segment is maintained by coal handling - during the first month of the present year the coal cargo volume amounted to 1,1 million tons, that is by 8,2% less than in January 2013. Due to intensive operation of the new fertilizer terminal, there was an increase of chemical cargo turnover, fertilizer handling has increased by 6,5% compared to the beginning of the previous year. The total amount of handled mineral fertilizers is 141,4 thousand tons.
An impressive volume of wheat and wheat products throughput - 127,8 thousand tons – has been reached this year, compared to 14,6 thousand tons in this cargo group in January 2013. Three times bigger volume of various metals was handled at the Freeport, and the volume of sawn timber increased by 16,1%. Practically half less peat and wood chip cargo volumes were handled. There is a decrease by 1,8% in unspecified dry bulk group , still there are positive trends, that can be attributed to soy product handling - 5,9 thousand tons of the product were transshipped in January 2014, while in January 2013 the said cargo type had not been handled at all.
Containerized cargo maintains its leading position
General cargo segment boasts 1,3% increase compared to the relevant period of the previous year, with the total amount of 0,52 million tons. In the beginning of the present year the volume of containerized cargo throughput decreased by 4,2%, nevertheless the said group is the most important component of the general cargo segment. 293 thousand tons of containerized cargo has already been transshipped this year. Roll on/Roll off cargo volume has increased by 11,7%. The volume of various metals’ handling has tripled, twice as much fish products were transshipped, other food cargo volume, handled at the Freeport, has grown.
Wood materials’ handling volume has decreased by 3,1% , chemical cargo handling volume – by 37,5% , and there has been decrease of 14,8% in unspecified cargo group.
More passengers visit Riga
53 351 passengers have visited the Freeport of Riga this January, that is by 5,1% more than during the first month of the last year.