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Klaipeda Port is Still Waiting for “an Injection” from Kazakhstan
Guste Vaseryte
When Russian cargo disappeared from Klaipeda port, we
started looking at more distant countries the cargo of which might replace Russian cargo
flows. Klaipeda State Seaport Authority applies various marketing means to attract cargo
from China and Kazakhstan but, nevertheless, this cargo does not come due to unfavourable
Russian tariffs.
Marketing specialist of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority
Viktor Budiak says that Kazakhstan cargo flow to Klaipeda grew until 2000 and reached
1,068 million tons per year.
“Later this amount used decrease and was changing every year, directly influenced by
unfavourable Russian tariffs that were much higher than the ones applied for Kazakhstan
cargo transported via Russian ports”, V.Budiak explains.
Kazakhstan cargo share in the total turnover of Klaipeda port makes up 4,3 per cent and is
in the fourth place after Lithuanian (12,9 million tons), Belarus (4,64 million tons) and
Russian (1,95 million tons) cargo.
In 2001 more than 700 thousand tons of Kazakhstan cargo was handled in Klaipeda port, 803
thousand tons in 2002, 921 thousand tons in 2003. During the first half of this year the
cargo flow decreased by 40 per cent. The volumes of black metals and alloys from
Kazakhstan kept growing, other types of cargo (oil, grain) decreased.
According to V.Budiak, KLASCO handled about 700 thousand tons of alloys last year.
Exhibitions are useful
The Head of Marketing Department of Klaipeda State Seaport
Authority Lina Gudelionyte-Gyliene, in spite of the permanently changing Kazakhstan cargo
handling curve, hopes that those types of Asian cargo will eventually choose the
Lithuanian port.
“Every year together with several port companies we go to exhibitions and conferences
organized in Kazakhstan since it undoubtedly brings benefit. The total Kazakhstan
export-import is rather great, therefore we look for ways how to direct those flows to
Klaipeda”, says L.Gyliene.
One of important incitement steps is the meeting of the Lithuanian-Kazakhstan working
group concerning transportation of cargo via Klaipeda port on June 15-16.
According to L.Gyliene, cargo could be attracted much faster, if Kazakhstan agreed with
Russia about the transportation of import and export goods via Lithuania.
Looks at China
According to V.Budiak, one of transportation policy trends is
to develop transit potential of the country.
“Klaipeda port which is like a bridge between Europe and Asia, is interested in
cooperation with Kazakhstan by organizing international transport corridors for transit
cargo from China, Uzbekistan and other countries”, he says.
One of the first Lithuanian steps to achieve this is the co-operation agreement between
Qingdao (China) and Klaipeda city currently under preparation, later a similar separate
agreement might be initiated between Qingdao and Klaipeda ports.
“It is difficult to guess the results of this project, but we hope that it might be the
beginning of cooperation in the developing international transit transportations”,
V.Budiak says.
Kazbalt works with all Baltic States
Four years ago there was founded information, trade and
industry association of the Baltic States and Kazakhstan, which represents the business
interests of Kazakhstan in Lithuania and is on business relationship with all Baltic
States.
“Different Kazakhstan cargo pass via the Baltic States”, - says Oleg Brylin, Director
General of the association.
According to him the choice of one of the countries is mainly business and where the
conditions are more favourable there the business goes.
O. Brylin says that, the majority of Kazakhstan cargo is handled in Klaipeda port, namely
KLASCO but the possibility of handling fuel oil is being discus-sed lately.
“There remains the question of price as Kazakhstan expands export limits and quite a lot
of enterprises wish to export oil products via the Baltic Sea”, - assures the head of
association.
The main types of Lithuanian cargo to Kazakhstan are – the second-hand automobiles and
there usually are 100 rail wagons per month and the figure permanently grows.
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