Ports of Azov-and-Don Basin decreased throughput by 42.7%, y-o-y, in Jan-Feb 08, to 658,400 tonnes

In January-February, 2008, throughput of the ports of Azov-and-Don Basin fell by 42.7%, year-on-year, to 658,400 tonnes, RZD-Partner reports. The decrease should be attributed to difficult ice situation and to the increase of export duties for grain being the main cargo at this time of year. Transshipment of grain and oil crop fell by 59.3%, year-on-year, to 230,900 tonnes, scrap metal – by 57.9% to 88,560 tonnes, coal – by 18.8% to 193,700 tonnes. In January-February 2007, the ports of Azov-and-Don Basin handled 1.149 million tonnes (up 3-fold against 362,000 tonnes handled in 2006). In particular, export of grain and oil crop as well as their products grew 2.9 times (566,000 tonnes against 189,500 tonnes in 2006), export of coal was up 7.2 times (from 33,300 to 238,500 tonnes), scrap metal – up 2.4 times (from 89,200 tonnes to 210,300 tonnes).