The rate of cargo handling still on the increase

09.09.2003

The rate of cargo handling at the quays of the Port of Gdansk is still on the increase. By the end of August, Gdansk stevedores handled a total volume of 14,265,704 tonnes of a wide range of commodities. As compared with the eight month of the last year, this shows a growth by 27,38% i.e. 3,066,490 tonnes more of handled cargoes.

August results provided evidence for the tendency towards growing cargo handling volumes within nearly all cargo ranges. Only in terms of grain - as compared with August last year - handling rates dropped (this year 13,765 tonnes were handled vs. 24,276 tonnes last year) and general cargo volumes fell by 4,689 tonnes (163,821 tonnes handled this year vs. 168,510 tonnes last year). For other cargo groups a steady growth was recorded as compared with August last year: coal - 501,497 tonnes (vs. 466,191 tonnes), ore - 5,585 tonnes (vs. 5,560 tonnes), bulk - 223,777 tonnes (vs. 147,136 tonnes), timber - 1,291 tonnes (vs. 0) and fuels - 902,016 tonnes (vs. 354,223 tonnes).

Positive results obtained in August are reflected in the aggregate turnover results compiled for the period January through August this year. A rise in cargo handling is most clearly seen in terms of fuels - 6,431,232 tonnes this year vs. 4,098,906 tonnes in the last year's eight months, general cargo - 1,436,684 tonnes (vs. last year's 1,140,702 tonnes), bulk - 1,748,490 tonnes (vs. 1,233,746 tonnes) and ore - 54,124 tonnes (vs. 54,045 tonnes).

Only this year's coal handling volume was slightly less than the last year's result - 4,465,049 tonnes, while in 2002 it totaled 4,510,824 tonnes, and also grain - 128,834 tonnes (vs. 160,991 tonnes in 2002).

- The reason for a drop in coal handling is the reduced import (Wislane Quay), whereas for grain - falling demand for ground grain - says Marek Czernowski, Chief Dispatcher at the Port of Gdansk. There is a continued good handling rate in terms of transit oil, bulk liquid and, when it comes to general cargo - steel products and scrap.

The figures on cargo handling volumes set out above, after the information from all quays have been compiled and completed, along with the archive data will be available on graphs in the "Cargo statistics" section.