An overview of the past ten months in the Port of Gdansk

20.11.2014

October has proved to be a consecutive highly successful month in the Port of Gdansk after September, with the attained throughput of 2,910,065 tonnes. The total throughput realized over the first ten months of 2014 has amounted to 26,489,411 tonnes, the result that is 4.7% higher as compared to the corresponding period of the record-breaking year 2013.

October has also been a record month for the Port of Gdansk in terms of the handling of LIQUID FUELS. The amount of 1.4 million tonnes is the highest monthly result posted since September last year. The volume of imported petroleum (1.1 million) is the consequence of the dropping price of crude oil, which is now the lowest in 4 years. Since the beginning of this year, the Port of Gdansk has handled more than 10 million tonnes of LIQUID FUELS, which indicates almost 11% growth as compared to the corresponding period of the last year. Bearing in mind the seasonal nature typical of this cargo group combined with the global trend prevailing on the market for several months now, it can be expected that in 2014 the result of around 12 million tonnes should be reached, which remains in accordance with the outlooks.

Upon the fist ten months of the current year, the record handling volume of GENERAL CARGO has been achieved (9.2 million tonnes), with the main share of containerised break-bulk processed by the DCT terminal. The key importance should be noted of the Maersk company which maintains its leading position in the industry thanks to its quality services and timely delivery.

Throughput rates of GENERAL CARGO over the past ten months have slightly exceeded the forecasts, and there is no indication suggesting that this trend might change in the nearest future.

It is also interesting to examine the throughput of bulk cargo, which at this time of the year stands at 2,952,473 tonnes, which is almost 37% more than in the corresponding period of the previous year. The growing volumes of "other bulk" is mainly driven by the handling of aggregates, which in October alone accounts for half the amount of this cargo group. The structure of "other bulk" has changed in line with the situation of the construction industry influenced by the rapidly developing road building and the implementation of infrastructure investment projects. Continued growth in the handling of this type of cargo in the Port of Gdansk can be expected in the coming years.

Spectacular growth has been achieved in the handling of fruit. This cargo is handled by a terminal operated by Cargofruit and situated in the Port Free Zone. The volume of bananas reloaded in the first ten months of 2014 amounts to 22,090 tonnes, which indicates a threefold increase as compared with the entire year 2013. By the end of this year, the Port of Gdansk expects to have handled 26 thou. tonnes of this fruit.

Particular attention should be paid to the situation observed in the handling of grain. This year's results will undoubtedly go down in history as the most impressive throughput volumes of grain ever recorded since the beginnings of the Port of Gdansk. A total gross weight of grain handled in the first ten months of 2014 exceeds the volume recorded in the corresponding period of the last year by 10 percent and stands at 1,290,930 tonnes, mainly thanks to Poland exporting large volumes of grain which has proved to be in great demand due to its high quality and competitive prices.

In view of both the positive trends observed in cargo handling and new investment projects implemented in the Port of Gdansk, continued steady growth of throughput volumes can be expected.