More than 18 000 tonnes of potassium fertilizer belonging to the Russian company Uralkali have been abandoned at the Ventspils port for four years. The cargo occupies warehouse space, hinders terminal operations, and no payments have ever been made for its storage. The Latvian company JSC “Kālija Parks” (KP) is actively seeking solutions to fully restore terminal operations.
KP has long requested a clear schedule for the cargo’s removal. With no progress, the company has initiated legal procedures, including plans to sell the cargo at auction. All cargo not claimed through the UN World Food Programme (WFP) will be sold to cover KP’s expenses.
The fertilizer shipment was delivered to Latvia before the European Union imposed sanctions, but once sanctions came into effect, state authorities prohibited its removal. In December 2023, over 34 000 tonnes were exported via the WFP, but 18 447 tonnes remain in KP’s warehouses.
“We have ensured the safe storage of this cargo, covered all related costs, and continued to pay taxes and port fees. Despite this, we have not received a single payment from the cargo owner in four years,” KP’s management stated. “Despite this situation, we continue to meet our obligations to the Freeport of Ventspils, i.e. to pay port fees and taxes. But without a real solution, this situation is no longer sustainable,” the company explains.
The Russian cargo occupies valuable warehouse space, prevents the handling of other shipments, and seriously impedes terminal development.
KP stresses that the matter needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Uralkali claims that responsibility for the situation lies with the EU and Latvian authorities. “It is regrettable that Latvian institutions have chosen to use KP as the caretaker of a blocked cargo that the state decided to freeze. We reiterate that this entire policy, which delays legal trade in agricultural products, is unfounded and wrong,” Uralkali representatives stated.
According to KP, accumulated storage and handling costs have already exceeded 3.3 million euros. Although the company has repeatedly requested a concrete removal date, it says communication with Uralkali/FSS has yielded no real solutions.
KP is now prepared to act legally and is awaiting authorization from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to proceed with the auction. The company also reserves the right to hold Uralkali/FSS liable for any potential damage to infrastructure once the warehouses are cleared.
KP stresses that the prolonged waiting and lack of answers is no longer acceptable – the damage continues to increase while the responsibility of the cargo owners is ignored. The management of the company has therefore decided to sell the abandoned cargo at auction. KP will wait for the FIU to give its permission to start the auction procedure. “We hope for a swift and constructive response from the FIU. Time is working against all of us—a solution is urgently needed,” the company said.