CARGO HANDLING AT THE FREEPORT OF RIGA
The port has an important role in ensuring the functioning of multimodal West-East and North-South transport corridors.
Owing to the well-developed motor-road and railway network, the Freeport of Riga is directly linked to the main consumption centres and extraction-processing regions of the CIS and Russia. The advantages of Riga over the neighbouring ports in terms of distance ensure the best conditions for the development of economic relations. The direct border of Latvia with Russia and Byelorussia is the most significant factor for the maintenance of stable and mutually beneficial business relations.
In 2007, the cargo turnover at the Freeport of Riga has increased by 2,3% compared to previous year, which totals to 25 932,8 thousand tons.
Traditionally, up to 80% of the cargoes handled at the Freeport of Riga are transit cargoes to Russia and the CIS states.
Significant part in the structure of the cargo turnover of the Freeport of Riga takes timber and wood product cargoes, reaching 3.3 MLN cubic meters during 2007. The economic activity of the Baltic Container Terminal in the structure of the Freeport of Riga cargo turnover has significantly improved. Containerized cargo constitute 7% of the total turnover or 211 840 TEU that compared to 2006 is by 19% more. The coal terminals STREK Ltd and Riga Central terminal Ltd raise the handled amount intensively, reaching 40% or 10,5 MLN tons of the total turnover. Traditionally, the Freeport of Riga has been successfully co-operating and co-coordinating the operation of all transport enterprises related to the port, thus infrastructure efficiency has been increased. Riga International Airport, a developed motor-road and railway network where important investment projects during the last years have been implemented, ensures good cargo traffic possibilities in the region.
