Cargo handling in Baltic ports in January-February 2008
During the first two months of 2008, 4,97 million tons of cargo was handled in Klaipeda port, i.e. by 21,5 percent more (+0,9 million tons) than during the same period 2007.
During January-February 2008 there grew the handling volumes of all types of cargo (general, bulk and dry bulk).
The growth of liquid cargo volumes was predetermined by the increase of oil products handling (during January-February 2008, 1,64 million tons was handled, during the same period 2007 - 1,34 million tons, difference +22,6 percent). Liquid fertilizers handling volumes remained in the level of last year.
Comparing to the same period last year there mostly increased the handling volumes of agricultural products (2,9 times), raw sugar (2,9 times), peat (2,1 time), timber and forestry products (+79,3 percent), alloys (+71,5 percent), primal and processed minerals (+48,0 percent), containers (from the point of view of tonnage) (+35,0 percent), bulk fertilizers (+20,6 percent), iron and steel products (+11,9 percent) and packed fertilizers (+8,5 percent). There decreased handling volumes of molasses (–61,9 percent), scrap metal (–17,6 percent), ro-ro cargo (from the point of view of tonnage) (–6,2 percent), and cold cargo (–3,8 percent) in Klaipeda port.
Container handling increased by 32,8 percent (in TEU), and ro-ro units by 3,0 percent. Ro-ro units increased due to the growth of automobile handling in Klaipeda port.
During the first two months of this year the total number of ferry passengers increased by 7,8 percent and made 26 thousand. During February almost 12 thousand passengers were serve din the port.
Valuating cargo turnover during February 2008 significant growth was fixed (+31,2 percent) comparing to February last year (during February 2007 1,94 million tons was handled and during February 2008, 2,55 million tons of cargo).
During January-February 2008 5,43 million tons was handled in Ventspils port and during January-February 2007 - 4,69 million tons. There increased the handling volumes only liquid cargo.29,5 percent more of liquid cargo was handled (or 3,68 million tons). Bulk and dry bulk cargo handling volumes were by -5,1 percent less (1,39 million tons), general cargo -7,8 percent (0,36 million tons). According to the types of cargo there mostly grew handling volumes of oil products +38,3 percent (+0,88 million tons) and by 9 times handling of grain (+120 thousand tons) in Ventspils port. There were the following volumes of transit cargo – oil products during January-February 2008 3,19 million tons (+38,3 percent) and bulk fertilizers – 0,46 million tons (-29,4 percent).
During January-February 2008 23 thousand tons of containerized cargo was handled in Ventspils port (the same as last year) and 2,77 thousand passengers were served (35,6 percent less than during the same period last year.
During January-February 2008 4,69 million tons of cargo was handled in Riga port i.e. by 28,4 percent more than during January-February 2007. There grew the handling volumes of bulk and dry bulk cargo (+45,2 percent) and liquid cargo (+13,6 percent). The biggest share of cargo, 3,06 million tons, made bulk and dry bulk cargo and it is 0,95 million tons more than During January-February 2007. 0,78 million tons of coal was handled more or by 56,9 percent more, bulk fertilizers – by 10,4 thousand tons or by 3,0 percent more than last year. Coal handling made 70,3 percent of the total turnover of Riga port.
The volumes of liquid cargo during January-February 2008 increased by 13,6 percent, comparing to the same period last year and made 0,85 million tons. Oil products handling increased by 13,0 percent or up to 0,84 million tons.
0,78 million tons of general cargo was handled in Riga port (2,0 percent less than during January-February 2007). According to the types of general cargo timber made 0,37 million tons(-12,7 percent), and containerized cargo made 0,31 thousand tons (+16,9 percent).
During the first two months of this year 35,6 thousand passengers were served in Riga port and during January-February 2007 there were 22,3 thousand. (+59,1 percent).
5,08 million tons of cargo was handled in Tallinn port during January-February 2008 (-32,5 percent comparing to the same period last year). According to the types of cargo there decreased bulk and dry bulk cargo by 68,7 percent or by 1,59 million tons, liquid cargo volumes decreased by 20,0 percent or by 0,89 million tons and general cargo volumes increased by 9,5 percent or by 50,9 thousand tons. The biggest share in the total turnover of Tallinn port made liquid cargo, i.e. 70,0 percent.
369 cargo ships called Tallinn port during January-February 2008 and during the same period 2007 – 512 ships ( –27,9 percent).
During the first two months of this year 842 thousand passengers were served in Tallinn port and during January-February 2007 - 685 thousand ( +22,9 percent).
0,79 million tons of cargo was handled in Liepaja port during January-February 2008 (+27,1 percent comparing to the same period 2007). According to the types of cargo there increased liquid cargo by 68,2 percent (during January-February 2008 0,18 million tons was handled), bulk and dry bulk cargo volumes increased by 30,6 percent (during January-February 2008 0,39 million tons was handled) and general cargo +1,0 percent (during January-February 2008 0,21 million tons).