In January-April 2007 throughput of the ports of Azov-and-Don basin totaled 3.514 million tons (+69%, year-on-year), yugmedia.ru reports. Export of grain and oil-bearing crop grew by 94% to 1.229 million tons, export of coal grew 7.2-fold to 475.5 thou tons, metal scrap – by 32% to 598.4 thou tons.
Azov-and-Don basin administration attributes the result to favorable weather in winter 2006-2007 and favorable conditions for sea and river transportation. “In 2007, the port of Azov was the main point used for transshipment of Kuzbas coal exported to Turkey and Ukraine”.