Already 4 million tonnes handled at the Port of Gdansk

02.03.2004

February turned out to be another successful month at the quays of the Port of Gdansk. A total volume of tonnes handled by stevedores at the quays owned by the Port rates at 2,213,658 tonnes i.e. 703,266 tonnes more as compared with February last year.

A significant drop in terms of cargo handling vis-a-vis February 2003 was reported solely for coal. That drop amounts to 137,109 tonnes, whilst the handling volume totaled 386,904 tonnes, although such a circumstance had been easily predicted. Additionally, grain handling volume was on a decrease (7,109 tonnes), however, when it comes to the February bulk cargo outcome, the Gdansk stevedores handled 218,835 tonnes (a growth by 3,816 tonnes). Similarly, in terms of general cargo an increased volume was reported at the Gdansk quays (by 116,232 tonnes) - 269,807 tonnes. Last but not least, the most successful cargo group - liquid fuels that, solely in February, rated at 1,330,638 of handled tonnes (720,692 tonnes more vs. February 2003).

This has been a second successful month this year for the Gdansk stevedores. As a result, during the two-month time, at the port's quays, a total volume of 3,954,568 tonnes of various cargoes was handled that accounts for an increased turnover by nearly 1 million tonnes (952,606 tonnes to be exact).

The major share is taken by liquid fuels - 2,333,237 tonnes, of which the largest volume is transit oil (only in February that volume amounted to 1 million tonnes). Worth mentioning is the outcome in terms of general cargo handling that totaled 566,791 tonnes. This rate of handling was achieved due to the increased demand for rolled products that are of great interest to the lively markets of China and Korea. Among so-called other bulk cargo, 484,200 tonnes were handled at the Port mainly owing to the calls of two vessels that came to collect sulphur. A slight drop was reported for grain handling - merely 24,594 tonnes were handled at the Port of Gdansk. This came as a consequence of the reduced malt turnover in import. The most painful drop, nearly by half, occurred in terms of coal of which as little as 545,081 tonnes went through the Port of Gdansk. It came as a result of the mining restructuring process that was coupled by a shortage of financial aid towards the coal export. The only consolation, if any, could be in the fact that such an occurrence had actually been envisaged and, therefore, came as no surprise.