The year 2024 started out for Latvian ports with a drop in the volume of processed freight. Nevertheless, there is also growth observed in certain segments – cereals, wood chips and container freight. In January Latvian sea ports managed to process 3.5 million tonnes of freight, which is 15.3% less when compared to the same month of 2023.
Positive freight volume was observed at Liepaja, Skulte and Mersrags sea ports in the first month of the year, as reported by the Ministry of Transport.
According to data from the ministry, in the first month of the year, the volume of liquid cargo went down by 0.6 million tonnes, that of bulk cargo went down by by 0.02 million tonnes, while the volume of general cargo went down by 6 000 tonnes. The drop for liquid cargo was affected by the turnover of petrol products. The drop of bulk cargo was largely dictated by the drop in coal volumes. The drop of general cargo was largely affected by the drop of Ro-Ro and lumber cargo volumes.
Despite these drops, however, sea ports in Latvia also saw growth of cargo volumes in certain segments. The volume of cereal cargo went up by 0.3 million tonnes, the turnover of wood chips went up by 0.1 million tonnes, but the number of handled containers went up by 0.07 million tonnes. In January 2024, Latvian small sea ports increased their turnover by 28.9%. Growth was secured thanks to freight turnover in Skulte and Mersrags.
For Liepaja sea port the year kicked off with a positive result in the volume of freight. This sea port saw a turnover of 0.7 million tonnes, which is 19.3% more when compared the start of 2022. The growth of freight volumes came from a 48.3% increase in cereals, a 74.6% increase in wood chip turnover and a 2.7% increase in Ro-Ro freight turnover.
Riga sea port handled 1.7 million tonnes of freight in the first month of 2024. No coal was delivered to the port in January at all. Freight turnover mostly consisted of petrol products and lumber.
However, a positive trend is observed in the increase in the volume of cereal freight, which have increased by 23.1%. The volume of container cargo has increased by 18.8%, and the turnover of chips cargo has increased by 51.5%, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Transport.
Ventspils sea port, too, had a drop in general freight turnover when compared to the first month of 2023. It was affected by the drop in volumes of petrol products, coal, Ro-Ro and lumber. Ventspils also saw a 12.7% growth for cereals, reaching 0.07 million tonnes in January.
Statistical data compiled for railway freight volumes indicate that in January 2024 the total volume of freight was 1.1 million tonnes, which is 20.8% less when compared to the same period of 2023, the ministry notes.
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2024 starts for Latvian ports with a drop in volume of processed freight
