English
During 8 months of the current year 23.9 million tons of cargo were handled via Riga port, which is by 10.8% less than in the corresponding period of 2015. According to the cargo turnover analysis the volume of bulk cargo at the port has stabilized, liquid cargo handling continues to decrease, the general cargo turnover is increasing. In August 2016, for the first time in recent years, the general cargo volume, transshipped via the Freeport, exceeds the liquid cargo turnover. An increase of general cargo segment can be attributed to the growing indicator of container handling. 248.4 thousand TEU of containerized cargo were handled in the first half of the 2016 at the port, which is by 4.7% more than in the corresponding period of 2015. 339 thousand TEU - the volume of containers handled in August - is the largest monthly result in the last five months. According to the Freeport of Riga Authority the container turnover increase is a very positive trend, due to the fact that the containerized cargo provides a higher added value for logistics industry, reducing the imbalance between inbound and outbound cargo at the port, as well as reducing the port's dependence on Russian transit cargo. Besides, the container transshipment is ecologically cleanest type of cargo-handling and it is very effective because the container is adapted for transportation by all modes of transport (by ship, rail, and road) and is easily moved from one mode of transport to another. That is why more and more goods are transported in containers globally and the Freeport of Riga follows this trend.
In August the largest container vessel in the history of the port called Riga. The container carrier MSC Alexa of the Mediterranean Shipping Company entered the Riga Port on August 5. MSC Alexa is the largest ship of this line - its length is 244.15 meters, GT – 42 307, draught - 13.22 meters and it can carry 3300 TEU. According to all the parameters this ship surpasses any container carrier, which has ever called the port of Riga.
In the context of low demand for Russian energy resources in the European markets the decrease in coal and oil product transit traffic via the port of Riga is still an ongoing trend. The transshipment volume decreased by 18.9% compared to the same period of the previous year. By contrast, the total amount of other cargo in comparison with eight months of 2015 increased by 3.8%.
As for the dry bulk segment - the turnover of coal, the most prominent cargo type, continues to decline - during 8 months of the current year the Freeport transshipped by 19,2% less coal than last year. Compared to the same period of the last year positive dynamics has been maintained in such positions of the dry bulk cargo segment as fertilizers (+ 7.3%), wood pellets (+ 9.2%) and, in particular, cereals, whose turnover in the port of Riga has increased by 82.6%.
In August, the volume of the transshipped oil products continued to fall resulting in the decline in total liquid cargo turnover. 5.9 million tons of liquid cargo were handled at the port during 8 months of 2016, which is by 18.7% less compared to the reporting period of 2015.
There are positive indicators in passenger transportation segment. 398 thousand passengers were serviced at Riga port during 8 months of the current year, which is by 6.1% more than last year. The 2016 cruise season was particularly successful. 51 cruise ships and 59.9 thousand cruise passengers have visited Riga this year, which is by 6.5% more than during the corresponding period of the last year. Since the cruise season will continue in September and October, it is expected that this year will end with the excellent performance of the Riga port and cruise tourism sector of Latvia.
