Cargo, Good for Business, Latvia, Port, Transport

The port's spokeswoman, Inga Ievina, said the first month of 2017 had been good or the port. Handling of ro-ro cargos, coal, oil products and cast iron had increased in January this year, she said.

For example, Ventbunkers increased cargo turnover by 131,000 tons year-on-year to 417,000 tons in January 2017, which was equal to 70% of its capacity.

Baltic Coal Terminal also increased its cargo turnover in January this year, reloading 415,000 tons or by 339,000 tons more than a year ago, using 80% of its total capacity.

Ventspils Tirdzniecibas Osta handled 287,000 tons in January this year, up by 69,000 tons year-on-year, Ventall Terminals increased its cargo turnover by 179,000 tons to 312,000 tons in January 2017, and Ventamonjaks handled 35,000 tons or by 9,000 tons more than in January 2016.

The new terminals which started operating in the Ventspils port last year - Eurohome Latvia and Overseas Estates - reloaded 75,000 tons and 12,000 tons respectively in the first month of 2017.

At the same time, cargo turnover decreased at several terminals in January 2017 compared to January 216. Ventspils Naftas Terminals (VNT) reloaded 681,000 tons or by 161,000 tons less than in January last year.

Ventspils Grain Terminal has not reloaded anything in January 2017 as opposed to 30,000 tons handled by the terminal in January 2016.

Ventplac reloaded 30,000 tons in January this year, down by 13,000 tons year-on-year. Cargo handling by Ventamonjaks Serviss decreased by 4,000 tons to 16,000 tons in January this year.

Kalija Parks terminal reloaded 13,000 tons in the first month of this year, using only 2% of its capacity.

Ferry lines operating in the Ventspils port showed good results in January 2017. The number of passengers and passenger cars carried by Stena Line ferries increased by one-fourth year-on-year to 14,224 passengers and 4,129 cars in January 2017. The amount of ro-ro cargos carried by ferries grew 20% to 166,600 tons from 139,600 tons.

On January 20, the Ventsils port received the first cargo vessel on the new shipping route between Ventspils, Zeebrugge and Tilbury operated by Swedish Orient Line.

With the increase of cargos carried by ferries and growth in bulk cargo handling, Noord Natie Ventspils Terminals raised its cargo turnover by 107,000 tons year-on-year to 256,000 tons in January 2017.

Investments in development of the port infrastructure will continue also this year as it is one of the priorities of the authority of the Ventspils freeport, the spokeswoman said.

Ventspils is the second largest port in Latvia in terms of cargo turnover.