During January-March 2008, 7,89 million tons of cargo was handled in Klaipeda port. It is by 23,7 percent more than during the same period last year, PortNews IAA learnt from the port’s marketing department.
The biggest growth during January-March was reached in handling raw sugar (4,2 times), agricultural products (3,4 times), peat (+60,1 percent) timber and forestry products (+42,7 percent), alloys (+41,8 percent), bulk fertilizers (+31,0 percent), oil products (+29,9 percent) and primary as well as treated minerals (+26,3 percent) comparing to the same period 2007.
Handling of containers (TEU) increased by +21,6 percent, and ro-ro units remained in the level of last year.
During the first three months of this year the total number of passengers serve din the port increased by 8,4 percent and made 42,1 thousand.
During January-March 2008 in Butinge terminal there was handled 1,95 million tons of crude oil (total stevedoring volume increased by 2,1 times). The growth of more than two times was predetermined by the increase of the number of tankers served in Butinge terminal (19 tankers were served during January-March 2008 and 9 tankers – during the same period last year).
Record monthly cargo turnover was reached in Klaipeda port during March 2008 – 2,88 million tons. Stevedoring volumes in March 2008 increased by 26,2 percent, comparing to March 2007.
There significantly increased stevedoring volumes of liquid and bulk and dry bulk cargo during March 2008, +37,0 percent and +54,4 percent respectively. Stevedoring volumes of general cargo slightly decreased -6,4 percent.
The growth of stevedoring volume of liquid cargo was predetermined by the growth of oil products handling (during March 2008, 0,95 million tons was handled, during March 2007 – 0,65 million tons, difference +45,0 percent). The stevedoring volumes of liquid fertilizers remained in the level of last year.
Analysing the type of bulk cargo we can observe the increase of stevedoring volumes of agricultural products (4,5 times), raw sugar (3,8 times), bulk fertilizers (+49,0 percent), peat (+17,5 percent) and alloys (+10,1 percent) comparing to March 2007. The biggest part of bulk cargo volume – fertilizers – made 0,7 million tons (according to the stevedoring volume it is the second type of cargo after oil products handling).
Among the types of general cargo we see the growth of stevedoring volumes of packed peat (+72,7 percent)and containers from the point of view of tonnage (+12,4 percent). Stevedoring volumes of cold cargo and timber remained in the level of March last year. There decreased the handling volumes of iron and steel products (-32,3 percent), packed fertilizers (-23,3 percent) and ro-ro cargo from the point of view of tonnage (-15,0 percent).
During March 2008 the stevedoring volumes of containers and ro-ro units remained in the level of March 2007 or 28,6 thousand TEU and 17,7 thousand units.
During March 2008, more than 16 thousand passengers visited the port, i.e. by 9,3 percent more than during March 2007.
Klaipeda State Seaport is the northernmost ice – free port on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.