The Port of Gdansk has overtaken Russia’s Port of Primorsk to become the third-busiest port for cargo shipments in the Baltic Sea, signalling a shift in the balance of power in the region.
Figures released by the port show that Gdansk handled a total of 4.6 million tons of cargo in January 2021, up 8.8 per cent year-on-year, moving the Port of Gdansk Authority into third place on the Baltic Sea podium.
Russia’s Port of Ust Luga and Port of St. Petersburg held onto the top two spots, according to figures they have released, handling 9.4 million tons (+3.6% Y-O-Y) and 4.7 million tons (-0.8%) respectively. The Port of Primorsk dropped to fourth in the rankings with 4.4 million tons (-26.3%), while the Port of Klaipeda remained in fifth place with 3.8 million tons (+10.8).
The Russian ports of Ust Luga, St. Petersburg and Primorsk have consistently remained at the top of the Baltic podium for at least the last decade, dominating the Baltic Sea in terms of cargo handling.
Adam Kłos, Commercial Director of Port of Gdansk Authority, said: “The rise of the Port of Gdansk Authority to third place not only proves the great flexibility of our port and, consequently, of our operators, but it also shows its universal character in the context of other ports in the Baltic Sea region. The global pandemic has affected the entire maritime industry. It has also been an important test for Polish ports, one which we managed to pass.”
Łukasz Greinke, CEO of the Port of Gdansk Authority, added: “It is definitely a good start to the year. The credit for this goes to the hard work of our operators. We are thoroughly impressed with their dedication.
“Our goal is to continually strengthen our position in the Baltic Sea. Thanks to our investments and clear directions, our contractors see an increase in their cargo handling capacity, while the Port of Gdansk Authority S.A. grows in strength. We are already a port without limits. This is due to: a deep-water fairway, thanks to which the External Port can accommodate the largest vessels with draughts of up to 15 metres; the absence of tides, giving a constant water depth; and the lack of ice, which enables year-round operation.
“In addition, we are nearing completion of our key investments on both land and water. Real improvements in terms of infrastructure in the Inner Harbour will be visible from the middle of this year, when all the quays will be upgraded and the fairway deepened to 12m. Operators will be able to use the new infrastructure, which will constitute yet another opportunity for them to increase their handling capacity.”
