2012-02-27 16:20

Klaipėda terminal not affraid to lose business to Ventspils

The volume of fertilizers handled at the Lithuanian port of Klaipėda dropped significantly in January due to Belarus' fertilizer giant Belaruskali having not yet signed new contracts with buyers, but the chief executive officer at local bulk cargo terminal plays down the decline, saying that factories are waiting for fertilizer and grain prices in the market to stabilize, the business daily Verslo Žinios reported on Monday.
Spalis Klaipėdos uostui buvo itin sėkmingas.
Klaipėda port. / „Begos“ nuotr.

"This is not the first year, nor the last, that Belaruskali does not have contracts at the start of the year. For example, China has stacked its warehouses. Everybody knows that they will not take any (fertilizers) until July. This is normal practice. Also, Belaruskali has a contract with India in effect until March and thus there can be no talk about a new contract," it quoted Vidmantas Dambrauskas, CEO of Klaipėda's Birių Krovinių Terminalas (Bulk Cargo Terminal), as saying.

Dambrauskas added that he did not think that fertilizer shipments would change direction and move to the neighboring court of Ventspils.

The terminal exceeded last year's 25 percent growth target for annual cargo handling almost twofold. Currently, it has an annual handling capacity of 7 million tons.

Report mistake
Successfully sent
Thank you