Some Lithuanian businesspeople say that the expected growth in Belarus' foreign trade as a result of the newly-signed cooperation deals will have an effect on Lithuanian transport companies, while others think that it will be Ukraine's ports, rather than Lithuania's, that will benefit from these agreements if they are carried out.
Vaidotas Šileika, CEO of Klaipėdos Konteinerių Terminalas (Klaipėda Container Terminal), said that Belorussian exports to Venezuela had declined somewhat this year, particularly the export of vehicles.
"There were only several small shipments of trucks and buses. I think that this is due to decreased sales in Venezuela, in which tractor and truck assembly facilities have been built. Parts for these factories are being delivered in containers," he said.
Mečislovas Vitkauskas of Klaipėdos Jūrų Krovinių Kompanija (Klaipėda Stevedoring Company, or Klasco) said that Belarus' goods traffic had recovered. The handling of Belarusian potassium fertilizers declined in the first quarter of this year because sellers had not signed contracts with China, but things improved in April, he said.
2012-07-02 17:07
Belorussian cargo flows via Klaipėda port fluctuate
A recent meeting between Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez in Caracas has evoked mixed reactions at the Lithuanian port of Klaipėda, the daily Lietuvos Žinios reports.
Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko (right) and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez / „Reuters“/„Scanpix“ nuotr.
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