English
2.86 million tons of cargo were handled at the Freeport of Riga in January, 2013, that is 15.7% less than in January of the previous year; still this amount corresponds to the average monthly turnover.
Freight turnover decline can be attributed to the stabilization of the world energy market. Last year in January the demand was extremely high, that resulted in a substantial increase in the handled cargo volume compared to the beginning of 2011. During 2012 demand for energy resources declined and handled cargo amount at the Freeport of Riga has become stable. Cargo volume, handled in January 2013, is the second largest amount since January 2012 in the framework of multi-year perspective.
During the first month of the current year 1.7 million tons of cargo were handled in dry bulk segment, that is by 11.6% less than in January 2012. At the same time, the volume of handled mineral fertilizers increased by 25.9%, volume of transhipped peat cargo increased by 36.3%, and the volume of other bulk cargo - by 15% respectively. Decrease (- 8.7%) was observed in coal transhipment, in grain transhipment (-59.1%), and the amount of wood chips handled decreased by 16%.
Containerized cargo is considered to be the most strategically important cargo group in general cargo segment - in January of the current year the containerized cargo throughput increased by 2.2% compared to the previous reporting period. However, assessing the number of containers handled, there is an increase by 11.2%, or 3,091 more units were handled. Decrease by 10.5% was observed in Roll on / roll off cargo segment, as well as in wood segment (-26.6%), and in other general cargo group (-48.1%).
Due to changes in the energy market the biggest decrease was in oil product group (-29.5%) compared to the previous year.
In January there was a slight decrease in number of regular line passengers; still there was a significant increase in cruise passenger numbers (+ 1 712).
