Ports follow suit

The first half of this year proved to be very successful for Polish seaports. With the exception of Police, all reported an increase in turnover. This was mainly due to the increased importance of ports for transporting three commodities – liquid fuels, coal and grain – whose previous transportation routes were disrupted by the war in Ukraine. In total, Polish ports handled 76.3 million tons of cargo in the past six months. This is 5.6% better than in H2 2022 and 22.7% higher than in the same period last year.

In the Port of Gdansk, transshipments in the first half of the year reached 43.3 million tons. Compared to the first half of last year, this represents an increase of 42.9%. Liquid fuels were handled the most, at 18.3 million tons, which is 59.6% more than in the same period last year. Liquid fuels accounted for 42% of all transshipments – 4 p.p. more than in 2022, when general cargo showed the highest tonnage with a 39% share of total transshipments. So far this year, 11.1 thousand tons of general cargo has been handled in Gdansk – 6.3% less than in 2022. Thus, the share of general cargo in total transshipments fell to 26% – a 13 p.p. decrease. This share is very close to that achieved by coal, which accounted for 24% of all cargoes that arrived at Gdansk quays. In the past six months, a total of 10.5 million tons of coal were handled – 172.2% more than in the same period last year.

Other cargo groups handled in Gdansk together generated 8% of turnover. Half of this or 4% was other bulk cargoes. This is a 1 p.p. decrease in the share of this cargo group compared to last year. Although the share of other bulk commodities in total transshipments decreased, in terms of tonnage it increased. Gdansk dockers handled 1.7 million tons of such goods, which is 9.1% more than last year.

Grain maintained its share of total Gdansk transshipments at 3%, but again, the amount of the raw material that was moved through the port’s silos was higher than last year, at 1.4 million tons, an increase of 51.8%. Ore also maintained its share in total transshipments – 1% of turnover, but this is only a matter of rounding when calculating percentages, as this particular raw material was transshipped in Gdansk far less than last year – by 56.4%. The total tonnage of this cargo group was 146.9 thousand tons. A large decrease in transshipments was also recorded in the group of timber, with a turnover of 124.5 thousand tons – 61.4% less than last year. Thus, the share of timber in total Gdansk transshipments fell to 0.29%.

In the Port of Gdynia, transshipments in the first half of the year amounted to 14.8 million tons – 7.9% more than in the same period last year. Almost half of the turnover was generated by general cargo – 49%. This is a significant drop in the share of this cargo group in operations by the Port of Gdynia. Last year, general cargo accounted for 59% of transshipments. This follows a reduction in its volume from 8.1 million tons in H1 2022 to 7.2 million tons in H1 this year. However, the share of the 2nd largest commodity group going to Gdynia – grain – increased. In the past six months, it was handled in an amount of 3.3 million tons – 49.8% more than in the same period last year. Thus, the share of grain in the Port of Gdynia’s total turnover increased from 16% to 22%. Transshipments of coal and liquid fuels also increased, of course. Coal was transshipped in Gdynia at 1.9 million tons – 48.4% more than last year, and liquid fuels at 1.7 million tons – 81% more than in the same period last year. The share of coal in the port’s total transshipments increased from 9% to 13%, and liquid fuels from 7% to 12%. On the other hand, less other bulk cargo was handled – 510.5 thousand tons – 37.5% less than in H1 2022, and for timber – 113.3 thousand tons – down by 67.3%. The share of other bulk cargoes decreased from 6% to 3%, and timber from 3% to 1%.

Meanwhile, in Szczecin and Swinoujscie, total transshipments in the first half of this year amounted to 18 million tons – 3.1% more than in the same period last year. As in Gdynia, general cargo accounted for the largest share of turnover – 46%. This is a 6 p.p. decrease in its share of total transshipments compared to the first half of last year. In terms of volume, transshipments of general cargo decreased by 9.5% at these ports and reached 8.2 million tons. The share of liquid fuel transshipments increased, of course, from 19% to 23%, coal from 6% to 10% and grain from 5% to 7%, but unlike the Tricity ports, the West Pomeranian ports also increased the volume of other bulk cargoes, whose share rose from 8% to 10% of the total turnover. There was no change in the share of timber – 1%, and a decrease was recorded in the share of ore – from 9% to 3%.

Changes in the share of total transshipments are, of course, reflected in tonnage. 4.2 million tons of liquid fuels were transshipped in Szczecin-Swinoujscie in the past six months – 26.4% more than in H1 2022. 1.9 million tons of other bulk cargoes were transshipped – 35.8% more than in the same period last year. Coal cargoes amounted to 1.8 million tons – 59.7% more than last year. Grain was another 1.2 million tons – 50.8% more than in 2022. Ores, on the other hand, were handled in an amount of 548.8 thousand tons – 65.5% less than last year. Timber went to the quays of Szczecin and Swinoujscie in an amount of 94.6 thousand tons, a decrease of 19.6%.

The past half of the year has actually seen a slump in cargo handling at the Port of Police. In six months, transshipments totaled only 150.1 thousand tons, down 76.5%. Declines occurred in all commodity groups. The largest amount of goods handled was in the other bulk cargoes category at 122.1 thousand tons, meaning 78.7% less than in 2022. Ores were transshipped in the amount of 20.4 thousand tons – 50.5% less. 7.6 thousand tons of coal was handled – down by 66.7%. In the portfolio structure, this gives a reduction in the share of other bulk cargoes from 89% to 81%, an increase in the share of ore from 6% to 14% and coal from 4% to 5%. Compared to the previous year, transshipment of general cargo has virtually ceased – 1 T was transshipped.

Article developed with Namiary na Morze i Handel magazine

phot. Namiary na Morze i Handel magazine