Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group announced that its consolidated cargo turnover in January-March 2014 amounted to 33.6 million tonnes (-9.2%, year-on-year).
Liquid cargo handling totaled 26 944 ths tonnes in January-March 2014, including 19 491 ths tonnes of crude oil; 7 179 ths tonnes of oil products; 168 ths tones and 106 ths tonnes of UAN and seed oils respectively.
Crude oil volumes in March exceeded these of February by 799 ths tonnes, of which Novorossiysk accounted for 602 ths tonnes of extra volumes.
Oil products growth rates accelerated to 5.1% year on year in Q1 versus 3.2% for January-February 2014. In March oil products handling was up 19.7% versus February.
Bulk cargo volumes in January-March 2014 reached 2 406 ths tonnes, of which grain accounted for 1 452 ths tonnes. Due to improved demand for Russian grain on foreign markets, grain handling in March was up 27.2% versus February 2014. Raw sugar volumes continue growing supported by seasonal demand and extra transit volumes.
General cargo handling in Q1 2014 comprised 2 964 ths tonnes. Ferrous metals and pig iron volumes reached 2 528 ths tonnes. Non-ferrous metals remain pressured by poor export demand, while timber decline rate slowed down to 5.5% year on year in Q1 versus that of 14.4% for January-February.
Group’s container traffic in January-March 2014 was up 5.0% year on year and totaled 167 ths TEU. NCSP container terminal recoded 27.5% growth in March versus February.
NCSP Group is the largest port operator in Russia and the third-largest in Europe, in terms of cargo turnover. NCSP shares are traded on Russia's Moscow Exchange (ticker: NMTP) and on the London Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs (ticker: NCSP). NCSP Group cargo turnover in 2013 totalled 141 million tonnes. Consolidated revenue according to IFRS in 2012 totalled USD 928 million and EBITDA was USD 510 million. NCSP Group consolidates the following companies: PJSC Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port, LLC Primorsk Trade Port, PJSC Novorossiysk Grain Terminal, OJSC Novorossiysk Ship Repair Yard, OJSC NCSP Fleet, OJSC NLE, OJSC IPP, CJSC Baltic Stevedore Company, and CJSC SFP.