Throughput of Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port down 10.2% to 21.6 mln t in Jan-Feb'14
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group has announced that its consolidated cargo turnover in January-Februaty 2014 amounted to 21.6 million tonnes.
PJSC NCSP CEO Yuri Matvienko commented on the operating results of 2 M 2014:
«Container traffic was 21% up in February versus January 2014 and grain handling increased 25% over same period. Year on year lag in total cargo turnover decreased to 10.2% for the first two months versus 12.2% in January, while year on year lag in crude oil was down to 20.6% versus 23% in January 2014.
Cargo traffic was constrained by adverse weather conditions at Novorossiysk, including 2 days of storm alerts in January and 9 days in February, which complicated some loading operations and caused numerous temporary limitations on dispatch of all kinds of cargo to Novorossiysk imposed by the Russian Railways».
Liquid cargo handling totaled 17 252 ths tonnes in January-February 2014, including 12 522 ths tonnes of crude oil; 4 564 ths tonnes of oil products; 63 ths tones and 103 ths tonnes of seed oils and UAN respectively.
Crude oil volumes are still dominated by the trend for a major redistribution of oil volumes to alternative and new export routes, and by growing domestic refining. Nevertheless year on year lag in crude volumes reduced by 2 percentage points versus that in January.
Oil products handing are up 3.2% year on year. High growth rates of 26.4% year on year at Primorsk port are supported by growing share of low suplhur fuels, which helps optimize terminal utilization and increase throughput capacity. Oil product volumes ta Novorossiysk were affected by rescheduling of some shipment for future periods and by supply limitations imposed by Russian Railroads.
Bulk cargo volumes in January-February 2014 reached 1 536.5 ths tonnes. Grain handling, which remain the locomotive of growth, was up 25% in February versus January. Raw sugar volumes continue growing supported by seasonal demand and extra transit volumes. Decrease in iron ore and fertilizer volumes is conditioned by weak markets and the above mentioned railroad limitations.
General cargo handling in the reporting period comprised 1 930 ths tonnes, a little below same period last year. Ferrous metals and pig iron volumes were 2% up year on year and reached 1 661 ths tonnes. Non-ferrous metals were pressured by weak export demand while timber volumes are decreasing both due to low demand from traditional buyers and ongoing containerization of this cargo.
Group’s container traffic in January-February 2014 was 7.2% up year on year and totaled 108 ths TEU while increasing 21% in February versus January 2014.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP Group) is Russia’s largest port operator in terms of cargo turnover. 50.1% shares of NCSP belong to Novoport Holding Ltd, the beneficial owners of which are OJSC Transneft and Summa Group. The Group comprises the following stevedoring companies: Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port OJSC, Primorsk Commercial Port, Novorossiysk Grain Terminal OJSC, Novorossiysk Ship Repair Yard OJSC, NCSP Fleet OJSC, Novoroslesexport OJSC, IPP OJSC, Baltic Stevedore Company LLC and SFP CJSC.
