Klaipeda Seaport is the leading Baltic Seaport according to the development rate

Cargo handling companies operating in Klaipeda Seaport achieved the record cargo handling turnover in March of 2016 – 3,45 mln tn. It is more by 14,9 pct. or by 447,8 thou. tn comparing with results achieved in March of the previous year. Altogether nearly 10 mln tn of cargo were handled within the period of the Ist quarter. 

Generalising the cargo handling results of the Ist quarter of 2016 the President of Association of Lithuanian Stevedoring Companies (ALSC) Vaidotas Sileika remarked during the press conference organized in the premises of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority that Klaipeda Seaport has become the leader among the Baltic Seaports according to the growth of cargo throughput. „Pursuant to the data of the first two months the cargo handling turnover in Klaipeda Seaport has increased as much as by 7,8 pct. This fact apparently shows our competitiveness and capability to conform to conjuncture changes. We must say that various crises had made us even stronger and Klaipeda Seaport operators had diversified the spectrum of their cargoes.

It is to be regretted that out neighbours have started feeling the influence of economic slowdown in the countries of Russian Federation. The cargo throughput in the Seaports of Riga, Ventspils and Tallinn has already dropped down. The rates of cargo handling turnover are decreasing in such Russian Seaports as Saint Petersburg, Ust- Luga and Primorsk as well. The largest share of cargo in Klaipeda Seaport, as many as 22 mln from 38 mln, account for Lithuanian cargoes that are destined for  the market of Lithuania. Therefore crises in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are not able to make serious impact to us“, told Vaidotas Sileika.

The President of ALSC noticed that the container handling has started to recover as well. According to Vaidotas Sileika this growth was determined by the situation in the neighbouring Seaports that were ignored by cargo consignors who had chosen Klaipeda Seaport. „ Such „transshipment“ reached even 10 pct. of container handling turnover on a monthly basis. We have also noticed that freight carriers brought empty containers to Klaipeda, loaded them in the Seaport and shipped to destiny ports.  In perspective the cargo handling turnover will only increase. Some shipping companies have started to replace their previous container carriers to ones with larger capacity. The planned investments of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority to the development  of the Seaport infrastructure will also induce the growth of cargo handling. We hope that this year the works of capital dredging of navigation channel in Malku  Bay will be commenced successfully“, said Vaidotas Sileika.