Shipping Traffic on the Rise Through Russian Ports

Entrance to the Russian port of St. Petersburg

MOSCOW–Russia’s sea ports handled a total of 271.3 million metric tons of cargo in January-June, 5.4% more than in January-June 2011, according to figures released Wednesday by the national association of sea ports.

Total throughput of liquid cargo fell during the period by 1.2% to 149.6 million tons, while dry cargo throughput increased by 14.9% to 121.7 million tons.

Baltic ports in Russia’s North-West handled 98.2 million tons of cargo, 9% more than in January-June 2011. Liquid cargo handling was 10% more than a year ago at 61.4 million tons, and dry cargo handling increased by 7.4% to 36.8 million tons.

Russia’s Arctic ports handled during the period 17.1 million tons of cargo, 20.9% less than in the corresponding period last year. Liquid cargo handling more than halved to 5.5 million tons, and dry cargo handling increased by 10.7% to 11.6 million tons.

Ports in Russia’s Southern Black Sea region increased their throughput by 7.7% on the year to 84.9 million tons, with liquid cargo handling falling by 3.9% to 52.5 million tons and dry cargo handling increasing by 33.6% to 32.5million tons.

Russia’s Caspian ports handled 5.2 million tons of cargo, 4% more than a year ago. Liquid cargo handling increased by 18.3% to 2.7 million tons, and dry cargo handling fell by 8.2% to 2.5 million tons.

Pacific ports in Russia’s Far East increased throughput by 6.5% to 65.8 million tons, with dry cargo handling increasing by 12.2% to 38.3 million tons and liquid cargo handling falling by 0.4% to 27.5 million tons.

– Grigori Gerenstein, Dow Jones Newswires