Analytics, Latvia, Port, Railways, Statistics, Transport

In the 1^st quarter of 2019, freights transported to and from Latvian ports accounted for 17.2 mln tonnes, which is 10.4% more than in the 1^st quarter of 2018. Freight turnover at Riga port was 8.4 mln tonnes, 1.6% more, at Ventspils port – 6.4 mln tonnes or 29.9 % more, at Liepāja port – 1.9 mln tonnes or 5.3 % less, but at minor ports – 0.5 mln tonnes or 29.9% more.

14.9 mln tons of freights were shipped from ports, which is 10% more than during the 1^st quarter of 2018. 36 % of freights loaded onto ships were comprised by coal. Its volume rose by 1.1 mln tonnes (27.1%). The volume of timber loaded increased by 0.2 mln tonnes or 18.4%, whereas the volume of freights in containers – by 7.1%. In turn, shipping of oil products reduced by 0.3 mln tonnes or 10.3%, but of roll on/roll off – by 1.9%.

The volume of freights received at ports rose by 13.4%. The volume of unloaded oil products grew by 17.3%, but volume of roll on/roll off – by 1.2%. The volume of unloaded freights in containers reduced by 4%.

Freight transport by rail and road is reducing

In the 1^st quarter of 2019, 27.3 mln tons of the freight was carried by land and pipeline transport, which is a drop of 0.6 mln tons (2%) compared to the 1^st quarter of 2018.

Freight traffic by land and pipeline transport in the 1^st quarter of 2019
(freights carried, million tonnes)

11.7 mln tons of freights were carried in transport by rail, a decrease of 2% on the 1^st quarter of 2018. National freights by rail comprised 0.3 mln tons – 6.6% less. In international traffic the volume of freight carried by rail reduced by 1.9%.

14.7 mln tons of freights were carried in transport by road, a decrease of 2.3% on the 1^st quarter of the previous year. 9.6 mln tons of national freights were carried, a drop of 13.2%. 5.1 mln tons of freights were carried in international transport, a rise of 28.2%.

1 mln tons of oil products were transported by the oil products pipeline, rise of 2.4%.

Riga International Airport received and shipped 6.6 thousand tonnes of cargo, an increase of 4.9%.

Upturn in number of passengers carried by land passenger transport

During the 1^st quarter of 2019, the number of passengers carried by land passenger transport comprised 59.5 mln passengers, more by 1% than in the 1^st quarter of 2018.

The number of passengers carried by rail transport increased by 4.3%, the number of passengers carried by regular bus traffic lines – by 2.4%, but the number of passengers carried by urban electrified transport reduced by 2%.

The number of passengers arrived at and departed from Latvian ports with ferries accounted for 193.9 thousand, which is 6.3% less.

1.4 mln passengers arrived at and departed from the Riga International Airport, which is 5.7% more than in the 1^st quarter of 2018.