OREANDA-NEWS. July 06, 2012.  Freight flows passing through Latvia’s Port of Liepaja in January-June 2012 surged by 48.6% from last year’s figure, to 3.52 million tons, the Port Authority said.

Shipments of grain jumped by 2.35 times to 1.34 million tons, handling of coal increased by 1.54 times to 111,700 tons, of construction materials - by 22 6% to 246,100 tons.

Oil product volume handled at the port’s terminal slumped by nearly 57.6% to 278,500 tons, while crude oil shipments rose 12.2% to 56,700 tons.

Container traffic jumped by 46 % to 2,016 TEUs, transshipment of Ro-Ro cargo increased by 54.3% to 13,181 units. The number of calls increased by 24% to 907 vessels. Passenger traffic increased by 56% to 14,113 people.

Port of Liepaja was founded in the 90s of last century at the former Soviet Union’s naval base. Liepaja ranks third port of Latvia by handled cargo volume. Half of the port’s cargo throughput is fueled by crude oil and bulk cargoes imported from the CIS countries, largely from Belorussia. In 2011, Liepaja handled 4.85 million tons of cargo.