The overall cargo handling turnover in Klaip?da Port and Buting?s Terminal in January of 2012 was 3,68 million tons (-7,3 percent or -293,0 thousand tons) and exceeded the cargo handling turnover of the Joint Port of Tallin by 758,5 thousand tons. The highest increase in cargo turnover throughout January of this year comparing with the corresponding period of 2011 was reached due to increased handling volumes of iron ore (+54,0 thousand tons), raw and processed minerals and construction materials (+46,3 thousand tons), liquid natural and chemical fertilizers (+38,4 thousand tons).
The significant drop of bulk natural and chemical fertilizers (-237,5 thousand tons), raw sugar (-66,6 thousand tons) and Ro – Ro cargoes (-49,3 thousand tons) handling rates resulted into the decrease of cargo handling turnover in January of 2012 comparing to the corresponding period of 2011. In terms of cargo groups the handling volumes of liquid cargo with the handlingturnover totaling to 1 025,2 thousand tons (35.6 percent of overall Port handling turnover) increased at most(by 2,4 percent).General cargo handling rates with 851,9thousand tons of cargo handling turnover (29,6percent of overall Port handling turnover) dropped by 7,0percent and the handling turnover of bulk and dry cargodecreased by 34,8 percent to 1 003,7 thousand tons (34,8 percent of overall Port handling turnover.
555 vessels, including 386international vessels (-14 vessels or -3,5 percent comparing with January of 2011) and 169 local vessels(+14 vessels or +9,0 percent comparing with January of 2011) called Klaipeda Port. The number of vessels registered in January of 2011 and 2012 was the same. 19 772 passengers, i.e. less by 0,1 percent or by 11 passengers comparing with the corresponding period of 2011 visited Klaipeda Port.