Big Port St. Pb cargo volumes slide 3 percent
Cargo traffic at Big Port St. Petersburg in January-July, 2012 fell 3% compared to the same period of 2011, to 33,016,000 tons, the Port Authority statistics said.
The seven-month volume of bulk cargo dropped by 14% year-on-year to 3,331,700 tons, shipments of liquid bulk slumped 20% to 6,830,400 tons. Handling of suction cargo soared by 76% to 250,600 tons.
Shipments of oil products decreased by 20% to 6,826,300 tons, of mineral fertilizer - by 7%, to 2,898,200 tons. The seven-month volume of ferrous metals increased by 7% to 2,937,300 tons.
Container traffic rose 2.4% to 1,431,439 TEUs.
Port of St. Petersburg is located on the islands of the delta of the Neva river, in the Neva Bay, the eastern tip of the Gulf of Finland. The Big Port St. Petersburg territory includes the Neva River delta and the Neva Bay, Kronstadt and dam structures protecting the city from floods. A fleet of icebreakers provide icebreaking assistance to merchant ships during winter navigation. There are 30 stevedore companies operating at the port. In 2011, cargo throughput at the port rose 3% year-over-year to 59,989,300 tons.
