Freight traffic volume at Russian ports in January-February 2015 increased by 10.3% compared to the same period in 2014 to 102, 2 million tonnes, the ASOP said in a media release.
In the reporting period handling dry bulk cargo totaled 41.6 million tonnes (+ 5.1%), including: coal - 17.1 million tonnes (+ 5.7%), ferrous metals - 4.4 million tonnes (+ 7.4% ), grain - 3.3 million tonnes (+ 24.3%), mineral fertilizers - 2.2 million tonnes (+ 6.2%), ferry cargoes - 2.3 million tonnes (a 2.1 times growth). Container traffic volume declined to 6.2 million tonnes (-13.4%), shipments of ore dropped to 0.6 million tonnes (-31.9%).
The volume of liquid bulk cargo reached 60.6 million tonnes (+ 14.2%), including: crude oil - 33.6 million tonnes (+ 8.7%), oil products - 24.1 million tonnes (+23.9 %) and LNG - 2.3 million tonnes (+ 6.5%).
Handling of exports totaled 84.1 million tonnes, a 12.7% growth on the same period last year, while imports volume fell 22.5% to 4.7 million tonnes, transit cargo totaled 7.4 million tonnes (-8.4% ). The volume of coastal trade freight jumped 1.6 times to 5.9 million tonnes.
Terminal operators of the Arctic Basin handled 5.4 million tonnes of cargo, which is 3.4% less than in the same period of 2014. Dry cargo volume decreased to 3.5 million tonnes (-11.6%) while handling of liquid cargo rose to 1.9 million tonnes (+ 17.4%). Throughput at the port of Murmansk fell to 3.3 million tonnes (-12.7%). Cargo traffic at the port of Varandey totaled 1 million tonnes (+ 8.7%). Port of Arkhangelsk handled 0.7 million tonnes (+ 27.3%) and port of Kandalaksha - 0.1 million tonnes (+ 29.4%).
The Baltic basin ports reported a 8.1% growth in cargo volumes to 36.3 million tonnes. Dry cargo volume reached 12.9 million tonnes (+ 1.1%), liquid bulk - 23.4 million tonnes (+12,3%). The following ports demonstrated strong performance: the port of Ust-Luga - 13.5 million tonnes (+ 23.8%), Primorsk port - 9.9 million tonnes (+ 7.6%), Port Vysotsk - 2.5 million tonnes (+1,9%), Port of Kaliningrad - 2.2 million tonnes (+ 4.4%). At the same time, freight throughput at Big Port St. Petersburg fell to 8.1 million tonnes (-7.7%).
Handling of imports, exports and transit cargoes at southern ports of Azov-Black Sea basin rose 22.1% to 34 million tonnes. The growth was driven by a 25.8% gain in the segment of dry cargo to 11 million tonnes. Liquid bulk volume reached 23 million tonnes (+ 20.4%). The port of Novorossiysk terminals moved 21.3 million tonnes (+ 11.1%) of cargo, Port of Tuapse - 4.3 million tonnes (+ 35.2%), Port Kavkaz - 2.6 million tonnes (a 2.7 times growth). Port Rostov handled 1.2 million tonnes (+ 7.6%), Port of Azov – 600,000 tonnes (+ 9.6%), Port of Taganrog 500,000 tonnes (+1.6 times), Port of Yeysk – 500,000 million tonnes (+ 47.1%) and Port of Temryuk – 400,000 tonnes (an increase of 2.1 times). At the same time freight traffic at the terminals of Port of Taman declined 19% to 1.6 million tonnes.
Ports in the Caspian Sea basin handled 1.2 million tonnes of cargo (+ 4.1%). The growth was attributed to a 47.1-percent surge in the segment of dry bulk cargo – 500,000 tonnes. Shipments of liquid bulk fell 16.6% to 600,000 tonnes. The ports of Astrakhan and Olya both reported a 1.5 times growth in cargo throughput and Makhachkala port - a 12.6% decline.
Freight traffic volume at the seaports of the Far Eastern basin increased to 25.3 million tonnes (+ 3.5%), including dry bulk cargo - 13.6 million tonnes (- 0.7%), liquid bulk cargo - 11.7 million tonnes (+8.8%). Cargo throughput increased: at Port Vostochny - 9.9 million tonnes (+ 12.3%), port De Karsti - 1.5 million tonnes (+ 22.3%) and Port Posiet – 1 million tonnes (+ 8.3%). Cargo volume of Prigorodnoye port edged up 0.3% to 2.8 million tonnes (flat year-on-year). Port Vostochny reported a slight (0.3%) decline to 3.7 million tonnes. Handling of freight at the port of Nakhodka fell to 3.1 million tonnes (-2.9%), at the port of Vladivostok to 2 million tonnes (-16.5%).
Association of Commercial Sea Ports (ASOP) was founded in 1987. Currently ASOP unites more than 50 Russian organizations and enterprises of maritime transport. The Association includes commercial sea ports, forwarding and agency companies, research institutes and maritime transport schools. The outcome data of the Russian port complex is based on statistical reports, covering all stevedoring companies operating in the country.