Baltic States – CIS, Cargo, Latvia, Port, Railways, Transport

This is due to both the geopolitical circumstances in the region and the fact that Russia is trying to divert freights through its own ports.

75% of freight in Latvia comes from Russia, also a little from Belarus, and about 5-10% from local shippers, Matiss explained.

When asked whether it is possible to replace the Russian cargoes with something else, Matiss said that in terms of tonnage, it is not: "It is impossible to transport coal in such quantities." Instead, it would be possible to attract freights with higher added value.

Matiss stressed that the state is trying to aid the transit business, for example, a Latvia-Belarus memorandum of understanding was signed in Minsk on December 10, stipulating development of mutually beneficial relations in oil shipments from Belarus to Latvia, using Latvian port infrastructure.