Transshipment of metal by Ukrainian ports up 11.7% in 2006

In 2006, port sector of Ukraine recovered the volumes of metal transshipment lost in 2005. According to RZD-Partner, in 2005 commercial seaports of Ukraine decreased transshipment of metal by 11.4% (-2.89, year-on-year) while in 2006 they handled 25.167 million tons of metal (+11.7%, or +2.655 million tons). This growth may be attributed first of all to export, which totaled 20.728 million tons (+7.1%, or +1.388 million tons) compared to a 11.2% decrease of 2005 (-2.439 million tons, year-on-year) as well as to transit –  +46.7% (+1.31 million tons to 4.115 million tons) compared to a 7.3% decrease of 2005 (-240 thou tons, year-on-year). However, there is a tendency to exclude metal from the list of coastal trade cargo: -19% (-67.5 thou tons to 356.2 thou tons) in 2006 and -30% (-0.16 million tons) in 2005. The growth was mostly ensured by transshipment of rolled ferrous metal and cast iron.