Aggregated freight throughput at the Port of Azov between January and April 2016 reached 2,075,000 tonnes, a 20-percent growth on last year's figures, the IAA PortNews regional correspondent reports citing the Azov port Harbourmaster Vladimir Bragin.
In the reporting period the Port of Azov was handling primarily cereals, petroleum products and coal. Grain volume jumped by 46.4% to 1,423,000 tonnes, while oil product exports dropped 19.9% to 348,000, shipments of coal - by 22.5% to 152,000 tonnes.
Volume of cargo that the seaport's terminals handle increased by 24.9% to 1,892,000 tonnes. Exports gained 52.7% to 1,612,000 tonnes. In contrast, imports fell by 40.2% to 53,000. Short sea traffic dropped 38.6% to 227,000 tonnes, transit cargo fell 14.9% to 183,000 tonnes.
The service of Azov Sea Port Captain in January-April 2016 processed 683 calls and 689 departures (586, 600 in 2015).
"The growht in freight throughput is attributed to the increase in transshipment at the port terminal of grain cargoes", said Vladimir Bragin.
Port of Azov is situated on the banks of the Don river. It is the main gateway between the Mediterranean Sea with the inland waterways of Russia and the Caspian Sea, for freight flows to the central part of Russia, the Urals and Central Asia. The boundaries of the port water area include the River Don from the 3151.0-km stretch, the Koysug river to the receiving Buoy No 1 of Azov-Don Sea Canal, including outer anchorage No 6 and the Calancea bayou to Dugino stop-over point.