Klaipėda Seaport handled 17.8m tonnes of cargo January-June

The first half of the current year in Klaipeda Seaport was rather versatile estimating the results of the first halves within the period of 2005-2014. The aggregate throughput in Klaipeda Port and at Būtingė Terminal in January-June of 2014 totalled 21,1m tons (the third result within the aforementioned period). The cargo handling result of Klaipeda Seaport of the first half of 2014 occupied the second place in the rankings (17 756,7 thousand tons). The first half of 2011 was the record one – 18 412,2 thousand tons of cargo were handled in the Port.

The first half of 2014 was the record period for the most abundant cargo of the seaport – fertilizers with the throughput reaching 6 096,0 thousand tons (the best result throughout the entire history of the seaport reached within the period of 2005-2014). The previous record was set in 2011 – 5 848,3 thousand tons of cargo. In January – June of 2014 the turnover of fertilizers (bulk and liquid) surged rather significantly: totally 6 096,0 thousand tons were handled (the yoy change was +28,66 percent or +1 358,0 thousand tons comparing with the corresponding period of 2013).

The transhipment of oil products in January-June of 2014 was the lowest during the first halves of 2005-2014: 2 812,9 thousand tons were transhipped, less even by -32,6 percent comparing with the first half of 2013. The previous anti- record was set in 2005 – 3 160,8 thousand tons.

It is worth noting the record result of containerised cargoes reached in the first half of 2014: 2 786,5 thousand tons were handled (+24,6 percent or +550,9 thousand tons comparing with the first half of 2013). This result was the record result throughout the entire history of Klaipeda Seaport (the previous record was reached in 2013 – 2 235,6 thousand tons). Analysis of the handling rates of containerised cargoes in terms of units revealed that the first half of 2014 was record as well – 218 556 TEU were handled (the previous record was achieved in 2011-210 604 TEU).

In January – June of 2014 the turnover of dry and bulk cargo constituting 47 percent of the overall cargo turnover of Klaipeda seaport increased rather rapidly: totally 8 365,1 thousand tons, i.e. more by +21,8 percent or by +1 459,0 thousand tons than in January-June of 2013 were handled. This result was achieved basically due to increased even by 33,1 percent throughput of bulk natural and chemical fertilizers : 5 158 thousand tons were handled (the yoy change was +1 368,2 thousand tons). The handling of ores also marked the rapid increase in the first half of 2014: 719,3 thou. tn were handled (the yoy change was +143,3 percent or +423,7 thousand tons). The handling rates of other categories of cargo making impact on the throughput in this cargo group dropped down: 1 134,3 thousand tons of agriculture products (the yoy change was -11,5 percent or -146,9 thousand tons) and 771,7 thousand tons of raw and processed minerals, construction materials (the yoy change was -19,3 percent. or -184,3 thousand tons) were handled.

The turnover of liquid cargo cutting out 21 percent of the overall cargo turnover of the seaport dropped down rather significantly in the first half of the current year comparing with the corresponding period of the last year: totally 3 697,2 thousand tons were handled (the yoy change was -28,3 percent or -1 362,1 thousand tons). Significantly contracted transhipment of oil products and liquid fertilizers made the greatest impact on the decreased handling rates of liquid cargo: 2 812,9 thousand tons of oil products (the yoy change was -32,6 percent or -1 362,1 thousand tons) and 676,2 thousand tons of liquid fertilizers (the yoy change was -10,6 percent or -80,3 thousand tons) were transhipped during the analysed period.

In January-June of 2014 the throughput of general cargoes constituting 32 percent of the overall cargo turnover of the seaport increased by +8,7 percent or by +456,1 thousand tons to 5 694,4 thousand tons. The throughput of packed fertilizers attributed to this cargo group increased even by +36,7 percent: totally 261,3 thousand tons were handled (the yoy change was +70,1 thousand tons). In line the significant rise of containerised cargo volumes was recorded in the first half of 2014: totally 2 786,5 thousand tons were handled (the yoy change was +24,6 percent or +550,9 thousand tons). Meanwhile transportation of Ro-Ro cargoes (2 196,0 thousand tons were handled, the yoy change was -5,7 percent or -131,6 thousand tons) and the handling volumes of timber and forest products (213,8 thou. tn were handled, the yoy change was -16,0 percent or -40,6 thousand tons) attributed to this cargo group and making impact of the overall turnover of the seaport significantly dropped down.

Altogether 3 303 vessels were reported to call Klaipeda Port and Būtingė terminal in January-June of 2014. 33 vessels moored at Būtingė terminal and Klaipėda Seaport received 3 270 vessels (less by -1,0 percent or by -32 vessels comparing with the corresponding period of 2013 ).

The number of passengers within the analysed period was 112 963 passengers, i.e. less by -9,5 percent or by -11 911 passengers comparing with the first half of 2013.

Cruise shipping. 24 cruise liners moored in Klaipeda Seaport during the first half of the year, i.e. more by +83,3 percent or by +7 ships than during the first half of 2013. Consequently the number of cruise passengers increased: 50 686 passengers arrived to the seaport (more by +52,7 percent or +17 490 passengers).