Review of Jan-Feb'14 cargo handling in Klaipeda Port, at Butingės Terminal and other eastern coast Baltic seaports
According to the Port of Klaipeda press release, the aggregate throughput of Klaipeda Port and at Butingės terminal in January – February of 2014 totalled 6,5 mln. tn of seaborne cargo: 5,5 mln. tn were handled in Klaipeda Seaport (the year-on-year change was -10,8 pct. or -662,3 thou. tn) and 1 mln. tn were handled at Butinges Terminal (the year-on-year change was -37,2 pct. or -595,2 thou. tn).
In January – February of 2014 the best result in Klaipeda Port was achieved in the turnover of dry and bulk cargo: totally 2 494,1 thou. tn, i.e. more by +0,7 pct. than within the period of two first months of 2013 were handled. This result was achieved due to increased (+5,2 pct.) throughput of bulk natural and chemical fertilizers : 1 257,1 thou. th were handled (the yoy change was +62,1 thou. tn). The handling rates of other categories of cargo making impact on the throughput of this cargo group also showed the increase: ore (218,7 thou. tn, +216,2 pct. or +149,6 thou. tn yoy), raw and processed minerals, construction materials (372,8 thou. tn, +18,1 pct. or +57,1 thou. tn yoy) and scrap metal (63,3 thou. tn, +185,1 pct. or +41,1 thou. tn yoy). The throughput of agriculture products that achieved the record in 2013 dramatically dropped down in January –February of the current year: 445,2 thou. tn were handled, the year-on-year change was -35,1 pct. or -241,1 thou. tn.
Decreased profitability of oil refining in the world market resulted into the gradual decrease of the overall turnover of liquid cargo : 875,4 thou. tn of oil products were transhiped in January – February of the current year (the change was -46 pct. or -744,9 thou. tn yoy). The handling rates of liquid fertilizers and molasses dropped down to 203 thou. tn (-32,7 pct. or -98,8 thou. tn yoy) and 12,9 thou. tn (-62,3 pct. or -21,3 thou. tn yoy) respectively.
In January – February of 2014 the most rapid turnover was recorded in the group of general cargo: 1 822,7 thou. tn were handled (the yoy change was +167,1 thou. tn). Such growth was determined by continuously increasing turnover of containerised cargoes that jumped up from the forth position in the overall port handling rankings to the second position: – 871,9 thou. tn were handled (+32,9 pct) or 70 750 in terms of TEU. The handling turnover of Ro-Ro cargoes fell from the third position to the forth: 688,3 thou. tn were handled (the yoy change was -7,5 pct. or -55,5 thou. tn). The Port still has handled the large amounts of fertilizers (1 574,7 thou. tn), including the handling of packed fertilizers that increased by +36,2 pct. to 114,7 thou. tn.
Altogether 940 vessels were reported to call Klaipeda Port and Butingės terminal in January – February of 2014. 10 vessels moored at Butingės terminal. Klaipeda Seaport received 930vessels (less by -16,1 pct. or by -178 vessels comparing with the corresponding period of 2013 ).
The number of passengers within the analysed period was 34 686 passengers, i.e. more by +2,1 pct. or by 710 passengers comparing with the first two months of the previous year.
