NCSP Group cargo traffic up 2.8% in January-April 2015
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group reports that Group’s consolidated cargo turnover for the first four months of 2015 comprised 47.4 million tonnes, exceeding that of same period last year by 2.8% of 1.3 million tonnes.
Liquid cargo turnover totaled 37 824 thousand tonnes; bulk cargo accounted for 3 288 thousand tonnes; general cargo totaled 4 659 thousand tonnes, and container traffic amounted to 1 605 thousand tonnes or 157 thousand TEU.
Commenting on NCSP Group’s operating results for January-April 2015 CEO of PJSC NCSP Sultan Batov said: «The volume growth trend persists in the beginning of the second quarter of 2015, but the growth rates are slowing down.
The slowdown is caused by crude oil volumes returning to monthly averages as the effect of reduced export duties on crude weakens, and by falling grain volumes affected by wheat export duties, as well as by weakening demand for and lower supply of imported goods, which affects container traffic.
On the other hand we see sustainable demand for and growth in volumes of coal, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. We also managed to grow chemical cargo turnover when we started to load sulphur. To compensate for some of the falling wheat volumes we are now loading more barley».
In January-April 2015 NCSP Group loaded 37 824 thousand tonnes of liquid cargo, which is by 1 069 thousand tonnes or 2.9% more, than same period last year.
Crude oil volumes comprised 26 024 thousand tonnes. Oil products volumes increased by 1 656 thousand tonnes or 16.9% year-on-year and reached 11 517 thousand tonnes. Growth rates slowed down compared to Q1 due to season increase in domestic consumption in the agriculture industry and start of maintenance at certain refineries.
Volumes of UAN and vegetable oils in January-April 2015 comprised 171 thousand tonnes and 111 thousand tonnes respectively.
Bulk cargo volumes in the first four months of 2015 totaled 3 288 thousand tonnes, including 1 666 thousand tonnes of grain; 340 thousand tonnes of chemical cargo; 357 thousand tonnes of sugar; 446 thousand tonnes of iron ore, and 479 thousand tonnes of coal. Chemical cargo* volumes increased by 186 thousand tonnes or more than twice year-on-year when fertilizers were complemented by sulphur. Coal volumes increased by 217 thousand tonnes or 28.8% year-on-year.
General cargo volumes in the reporting period increased by 702 thousand tonnes or 17.8% year-on-year and reached 4 659 thousand tonnes.
Volumes of ferrous metals and pig iron increased by 613 thousand tonnes or 18.6% year-on-year, and growth rate accelerated by 2.2. percent points versus Q1 2015.
Timber cargo grew by 10.5 thousand tonnes or 5.7% year-on-year. Volumes of non-ferrous metals grew by 85 thousand tonnes or 27.1% year-on-year. Perishable cargo and other cargo in January-April 2015 comprised 68 thousand tonnes and 82 thousand tonnes respectively.
Group’s container traffic in January-April 2015 totaled 1 605 thousand tonnes and 157 thousand TEU. BSC’s container turnover is materially affected by the reduction of production plans and supply of parts for Avtotor automotive plant.
NCSP Group is the largest port operator in Russia and the third-largest in Europe, in terms of cargo turnover. NCSP Group cargo turnover in 2014 totalled 131 million tonnes. Consolidated revenue to IFRS in 2014 totalled USD 956 million and EBITDA was USD 569 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.
