Ukrainian seaports increased cargo handling by 2.5 million tons in January-February
According to the results of two months of 2019, Ukrainian ports processed more than 23 million tons of cargo, which exceeds the figures for the similar period of last year by more than 2.5 million tons (or 12.5%), USPA says in a press release.
Enablers of such positive dynamics in cargo turnover were products of agroindustrial complex, metallurgical industry, container cargo and fertilizers. Thus, during January-February the volume of transshipment of grain cargo amounted to almost 8.5 million tons, which is 35.5% more than in 2018. Ore handling increased by more than a quarter (+ 25.8%) (4.6 million tons against 3.7 million tons in the first two months of last year). Almost 16% growth was demonstrated by oil — more than 1 million tons have already been transshipped. The growth trend of container cargo handling is stable: + 20.5 thousand TEU as compared to January-February 2018.
Before the sowing campaign, there was an increase in imports of chemical and mineral fertilizers, both packaged and bulk. The total volume of their transshipment during the first two months of the year amounted to more than 350 thousand tons, which is more than twice the same indicator of the previous year.
Just like in January, the growth of transshipment was primarily due to exports, the volume of which increased by more than 3.2 million tons (+ 21.5%) compared to last year, while imports and transit, on the contrary, decreased by 5% and 24% respectively.
According to the results of two months, the absolute leader in the volume of cargo transshipment was the port of Yuzhnyi with 7.36 million tons, which is almost a quarter (+ 24.9%) more than in January-February 2018. Mykolaiv port almost reached the mark 5 million tons. Almost 4 million tons of cargo were processed in Chornomorsk and Odesa ports in two months: 3.99 million tons and 3.97 million tons, respectively.
During January-February Ukraine's seaports processed 1726 vessels, which is 6.7% or 124 units less than last year. The leaders with the increase in the number of vessels are the same as in January — Chornomorsk, Olvia and Kherson.
The services of water transport in the ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk for the first two months were used by 3159 passengers.
Favorable weather conditions made it possible to carry out 53 vessels by the Dnipro River from the beginning of the year and transport 78,1 thousand tons of cargoes, mainly cereals — 66,5 thousand tons.