Compared to Q1 2020, freight carried in transport by land and pipeline increased by 12.2%, but at ports – reduced by 8.2% in Q1 2021.
23.4 million tons of freights were carried by land and pipeline transport, up by 2.5 million tons or by 12.2%. An increase was observed for the first time since Q2 2018, according to data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.
Rail transport freights comprised 6 million tons, as in Q1 2020. National freights by rail comprised 0.4 million tons, up by 10.4%. In international traffic the volume of freight carried by rail comprised 5.6 million tons, down by 0.6%. Of which export freight transport – 0.5 million tons, up by 1%, import freight transport – 4 million tons, down by 11.4%, and goods in transit – 1.1 million tons, up by 71.7%. In Q1, transport freights via Latvian ports comprised 3.6 million tons, down by 12.5%.
Freights by road comprised 16.9 million tons, up by 17.9%. National freights comprised 12.5 million tons, up by 25%.
International freights accounted for 4.4 million tons, up by 1.3%. Of which export freight transport comprised 1.2 million tons, up by 22.5%. Import freight transport fell by 4.3% and comprised 0.8 million tons. Cross-trade and cabotage freights comprised 2.4 million tons, down by 4.9%. 78.9% of total road freights were transportation for hire or reward. They rose by 16%.
0.5 million tons of oil products were transported via main pipeline, down by 4.3%.
Since Q2 2019, as compared to the same period of the previous year, freight turnover at ports has been falling. In Q1, the cargo loaded and unloaded at ports comprised 11.2 million tons, down by 8.2%. Freight turnover at Riga port was 5.4 million tons, down by 15.3%, at Ventspils port – 3.6 million tons, down by 3.7%, at Liepaja port – 1.6 million tons, down by 1.3%, but at minor ports – 0.6 million tons, up by 27.7%.
Freights loaded at ports comprised 9 million tons, down by 6.4%. The largest drop was observed in coal loaded – by 1.2 million tons or 86.8%. Oil products shipped rose by 7.3%, volume of timber loaded – by 10.9%, of freights in containers – by 1.2%, of grain and grain products – by 22.2%. But the volume of roll on/roll off fell by 3.6%, of mineral fertilizers – by 1.9% and of wood chips – by 9.7%.
2.2 million tons of freights were unloaded at ports, their volume fell by 15.2%. Oil products unloaded reduced by 37.8%, volume of building materials unloaded – by 2.7%, volume of various metals and articles thereof – by 29.6% and volume of unloaded freights in containers – by 23.6%. But the volume of roll on/roll off rose by 0.4%, of iron ore – by 45.3% and of wood chips – by 6.7%.
Airport Riga loaded and unloaded 5.7 thousand tons of freights, up by 1%. (BNN/Business World Magazine)
