Analytics, Latvia, Port, Transport

Bulk cargo accounted for the largest part of cargo shipped through Latvian ports in 2019, amounting to 34.923 mln tons, a decrease of 6.3% on 2018. This included 16.898 mln tons of coal (19.1% decrease), 5.507 mln tons of grain and grain products, up 13.8%, 2.339 mln tons of chemical bulk cargo (8.6% down), and 2.051 mln tons of wood chips (up 28.6%).

Liquid cargo turnover totaled 14.597 mln tons, which is 3.1% less than a year ago. Last year the Latvian ports handled 13.752 mln tons of oil products, a drop of 2.9% as compared to 2018.

General cargo turnover at Latvian ports decreased 7.2% to 12.86 mln tons. 

The Freeport of Riga handled 32.762 mln tons of cargo in 2019, a decrease of 10.1% on 2018. Ventspils Port's cargo turnover amounted to 20.457 mln tons (0.6% increase), and Liepaja Port's turnover declined 2.7% on year to 7.334 mln tons.

Of the small Latvian ports, Skulte Port achieved the highest cargo turnover of 1.006 mln tons last year (0.7% increase on 2018), followed by Mersrags Port (468,200 tons, 2.5% increase), and Salacgriva Port (301,800 tons, 14% reduction). 

In total, the Latvian small ports transshipped 1.826 mln tons of cargo in 2019, a decrease of 2.8% on 2018.

In 2018, the Latvian ports handled 66.175 mln tons of cargo, which is an increase of 6.9% against 2017.