Lithuania’s transport sector copes with Russia’s sanctions

The ministry reported that the transport sector’s contribution to Lithuania’s GDP grew by 6.3 percent. It generated 5.7 percent more income, amounting to EUR 7.52 billion.

According to Rimantas Sinkevičius, the Minister of Transport and Communications, in 2014 Lithuania’s transport sector maintained growth and efficiency, in spite of sanctions imposed by Russia. The loss of transport services’ export to Russia was compensated for by the increase of export to other countries. Meanwhile indicators of railway and sea transport were positively affected by the increase of carried fertilisers and container handling.

In 2014 the volume of export of transport services increased by 8.87 percent and reached EUR 3.589 billion. Export to Russia fell by 5.7 percent (EUR 63.29 million) due to sanctions imposed on certain goods. However, export of transport services to other countries soared by as much as 16.5 percent (EUR 346.8 million).

In 2014 transport of goods by land grew by 3.5 percent: 2 percent by railway (up to 49 million tonnes), 10 percent by road transport (up to 57.6 million tonnes). Cargo handling in Klaipėda State Seaport grew by 9 percent, to 36.41 million tonnes.

Lithuania’s international airports serviced 3.8 million passengers in 2014, an increase of 9 percent. The number of flights and passengers grew most in Vilnius International Airport, by 13.7 and 10.6 percent respectively. In this regard Vilnius International Airport surpassed Riga (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia) airports.