2024 for Klaipėda Port: Growing cargo handling, new records and increased market share

KLAIPEDA : Significant growth in cargo handling, new records in the handling of construction materials, minerals and containers, also Klaipėda taking almost a quarter of the market among Baltic country ports – this is how the year 2024 could be briefly described for the Port of Klaipėda. It ended the year with 35.5 million tonnes of cargo handled, recording an 8% growth and a 39% market share among Baltic country ports.

“Despite the geopolitical challenges, the Port of Klaipėda has remained the first choice in the Baltic Countries. While surrounding ports are still looking for ways to overcome their difficulties, Klaipėda is showing steady growth. These results are due to the Port Authority’s steady investment in infrastructure, the companies’ determined decisions to modernise their equipment, and their persistence in working with their customers. Klaipėda Port’s cargo handling performance is not only a number, but also a symbol of a reliable and innovative partner,” says Algis Latakas, Director General of Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.

In 2024, the highest growth in the Port of Klaipėda was in the handling of construction materials and minerals. The handling of these cargo almost doubled (99%) from 1 million 40 thousand tonnes in 2023 to 2 million 68 thousand tonnes in 2024. This growth is mainly driven by active road and rail construction. This is historically the highest ever volume of handling operations in the Port of Klaipėda. The majority (93%) of the construction materials and minerals handled at the port last year were imported, with almost half of the imports (47%) coming from Scandinavian countries.

Container cargo handling was the second largest contributor to tonnage growth last year, with 859 thousand tonnes or 9% more than in 2023. Last year, the total amount of handled cargo was just over 10 million tonnes. This represents 28% of the port’s total cargo handling.

The 1 million TEU (standardised container unit) handling milestone, which was surpassed for the third year in a row at the end of the year, is not the only achievement in this cargo group. In 2024, a new record of handling 1 million 68 thousand 771 TEUs (standardised container unit) was set, or 2% more than the previous year. In 2023, the Port of Klaipėda ended the year with a cargo handling result of 1 million 50 thousand 804 TEU (standardised container unit).

The third place for cargo handling in terms of tonnage growth last year was won by cargo group ro-ro – with 852 thousand tonnes or 16% more than in 2023. This is the second best cargo handling result in this segment in the Port of Klaipeda. Only in 2021the result of handled ro-ro was higher. The total annual handling of vehicles transported by ferry is 6.1 million tonnes. This represents 17% of the port’s total cargo handling.

There was also a significant increase in the handling of timber and forestry products, with 244 thousand tonnes or 49% more handled cargo. Last year, 189 thousand tonnes of iron, steel and steel structures were handled, or 75% more than in 2023. Fertiliser handling grew by 201 thousand tonnes or 13% – in 2024 1.76 million tonnes was handled.

The number of ships arriving at the port has also increased. Last year, the Port of Klaipėda received 5,478 of them. This is an increase of 132 or 2% compared to 2023. The number of passengers using the Port of Klaipėda last year was slightly more than 381 thousand – an increase of around 25 thousand or 7%.

98 ships (including 10 modernisation projects) have been repaired in the Port of Klaipėda, and 1 hull has been built with partial fitting out.

Only a few cargo indicated a decrease in cargo handling last year. One of them is oil products. The cargo handling in this segment decreased by 784 thousand tonnes or 18% to 3.63 million tonnes compared to 2023. Last year, the port handled 319 thousand tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), or 14% less. In total, this cargo amounted to just over 2 million tonnes per year. The amount of grain loaded in 2024 was 70 thousand tonnes less than in 2023. In total, 4.15 million tonnes of grain were handled, or 12% of the total cargo handling of the Port of Klaipėda.

Looking at last year’s cargo handling and dividing it into quarters, the second half of the year was more successful for Klaipėda Port. In both 3rd and 4th quarters of the year, cargo handling exceeded 9 million tonnes.

Last year was the most successful year for the Port of Klaipėda compared to other Baltic country ports. Its market share grew by 3 percentage points, from 36% in 2023 to 39% last year.

The Port of Tallinn’s cargo handling in 2024 increased by 548 thousand tonnes or 4%. In total, the Port of Tallinn handled 13.1 million tonnes of cargo in 2024. This is more than half the volume of the Port of Klaipėda.

The Port of Riga saw a drop in cargo handling of 732 thousand tonnes, or 4%. In total, Riga handled 18.1 million tonnes of cargo. In Liepaja, cargo handling fell by 3 percent to a total of around 7 million tonnes last year, while in Ventspils it fell by 21 percent to 8.2 million tonnes. Combining the three Latvian ports, their handling consists of 33.3 million tonnes of cargo. This is 6% less than the cargo handling of the Port of Klaipėda alone.