Box volumes skyrocket at Port of Klaipeda

KLAIPEDA : The Port of Klaipėda in Lithuania was added to more cargo shipping routes in 2022, which led to an increase in container volumes, particularly in the transshipment sector, handling a total of 1,047,941 TEUs.

The Port of Klaipeda has achieved the largest container growth among the ports on the east coast of the Baltic Sea with a 57% box volume growth.

The major Lithuanian port closed the previous year with a cargo volume of 36.1 million tonnes, maintaining its fourth place among Eastern Baltic ports.

Despite a 21% decline in cargo compared to 45.6 million tonnes in 2021, the outcome is better than expected, according to the port authority. The decline is significant due to the loss of practically all transit cargo as a result of the Ukrainian conflict and accompanying restrictions.

“The drop in transit cargo, primarily Belarussian bulk fertilizer, was somewhat offset by a record number of container TEUs and an increase in LNG and other petroleum product cargo volumes,” noted the port in a statement.

Algis Latakas, director general of the Port of Klaipėda Authority, commented, “The port is dependent on its geographical location, general economic trends, industry and transit routes, but we put our efforts that this year we will maintain our 2022 performance in cargo handling.”