In the first quarter of 2019, Sea Port of Saint-Petersburg JSC (SP SPb) handled 1.69 million tonnes of dry cargo, down 10% versus the same period of the previous year. The negative dynamics should be attributed to reduction of metal transshipment. However, handling of other types of general cargo – metal scrap, big-bags, containers and dry bulk cargo — showed an increase.
From the beginning of the year, SP SPb handled 798,000 tonnes of ferrous metal and 322,000 tonnes of non-ferrous metal, down 27% and 10%, accordingly due to the decrease of steel and alumina exports by the port’s clients. An exception is cast iron – its transshipment surged 9-fold to 54,000 tonnes.
Having expanded its storage infrastructure the company boosted exports of metal scrap. In the three-month period, its volume increased by 8% to 172,000 tonnes. Transshipment of mineral fertilizers in big-bags almost doubled to 120,000 tonnes. Handling of wood pellets surged by 40% to 89,000 tonnes.
In general, transshipment of general cargo totaled 1.53 million tonnes, down 13% versus the first three months of 2018.
Transshipment of dry bulk cargo grew by 32% to 64,000 tonnes driven primarily by 66-pct growth of grain transshipment to 21,000 tonnes and 24-pct growth of ore to 39,000 tonnes.
While developing its container service SP SPb handled 7,500 TEUs, 20% more than in the first quarter of 2018. Exports totaled 7,100 TEUs, imports - 400 TEUs.
In 1Q’2019 exports accounted for 99% of the company’s total throughput, imports — for 1%.
