Cargo throughput totaled 19 million tonnes – an increase of 16% compared to the same period last year. According to the Klaipeda State Seaport Authority, positive trends can be observed in most freight segments.
“The decision not to give in in difficult times, not to put important projects on hold and to continue investing in the modernization of the port is paying off,” said CEO Algis Latakas. “Looking ahead to the second half of the year, there is no doubt that we will continue to be one of the ports that reach the 1 million TEU mark. We are also expecting the peak of the grain shipping season.”
The increase in cargo was mainly due to a significant increase in containerized cargo, stable RoRo and oil product flows, as well as significant growth in the liquefied natural gas (LNG), minerals and building materials segments.
Container handling volume in the Port of Klaipeda increased by 38% – the TEU freight statistics show a balanced distribution between exports (40%) and imports (41%). The share of transshipments rose to nearly one-fifth of the total container volume this year.
The minerals and building materials sector recorded the most significant growth at 48%, with throughput reaching 1 million tonnes. According to the port authority, the increase is driven by ongoing road and rail construction projects in Lithuania.
Compared to the previous year, LNG volume rose by 47% to 1.1 million tonnes. RoRo freight volumes increased by 6% to 3.2 million tonnes in the first half of the year. The handling of oil products grew by 4% and exceeded nearly 2 million tonnes.
The number of passengers arriving at and departing from the port also developed positively in the first half of the year. 164,000 passengers used the port of Klaipeda – an increase of 20% compared to the previous year. The number of cruise passengers even rose by 66%.
Scrap handling declined by a quarter compared to the same period last year. Grain shipments reached 1.4 million tonnes, representing a 14% decrease. Wood freight also dropped slightly: 354,000 tonnes were handled in the first half of the year, 11% less than in the previous year. Fertilizer volumes decreased by 4% to 783,000 tonnes.
The total cargo volume at all Baltic Sea ports reached 46.4 million tonnes in the first half of this year – an increase of 5%, according to Klaipeda. Lithuania’s only seaport performed the best with a growth rate of 16% and was also able to increase its market share: Klaipeda currently holds 40.8% of the Baltic market, compared to 37.1% in the previous year.
