In January-March 2011 the volume of cargo transported by rail increased considerably reaching 14.8 million tons, which is 11.7% more than over the same period last year.
Most of all grew import cargo volume reaching 12 million tons, which is 6.5% more than over the first quarter of 2010. Overland transit almost doubled (+93.5%) in January-March reaching 1.46 million tons. Export cargo volume increased by 22% to 1.1 million tons.
“Transportation of oil products and coal grew mostly due to increasing demand in global markets. The latest developments in earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan caused an increase in demand for energy resources, thus rising prices in global markets. Besides, our ports are now accessible unlike in the Gulf of Finland, where navigation is still affected by the ice,” comments LDz President Uģis Magonis.
Domestic transportation volume decreased by 30.8% to 211,000 tons compared to the same period last year.
As usual, most of all were transported oil, oil products and coal. The volume of oil products grew 24% to 6.15 million tons, whilst the volume of coal increased by 8.1% to 4.37 million tons.
Compared to the first quarter of 2010 the volume of mineral fertilizers grew 18.1% to 1.3 million tons. The volume of ferrous metals increased by 12.4% to 618,000 tons, whilst the volume of timber products grew 23.7% to 188,000 tons.
On the other hand, ore transportation volume decreased by 6.5% to 709,000 tons, and chemical cargo volume dropped 20.5% to 411,000 tons.
25630 TEU containers were carried by rail in January-March, which is 27.2% more than over the same period last year.
Freight operators in Latvia: LDz Cargo Ltd, JSC Baltijas ekspresis, JSC Baltijas tranzīta serviss.
Latvijas dzelzceļš Group consists of the holding company SJSC Latvijas dzelzceļš and five subsidiaries – JSC LatRailNet, LDz Cargo Ltd, LDz Infrastruktūra Ltd, LDz Ritošā sastāva serviss Ltd, and LDz Apsardze Ltd.
Prepared by Public Relations Department