Russian seaports expect cargo traffic flat at 840 mln tns in 2020

MOSCOW, Aug 27 (PRIME) -- Russian seaports expect their combined cargo traffic to remain flat on the year at around 840 million tonnes in 2020, Dmitry Morozov, chairman of the committee for investment programs for port infrastructure development and production issues at the Association of Commercial Sea Ports, told PRIME on Thursday.

“In general, we expect cargo traffic of Russian seaports at the level of past year of about 840 million tonnes. We expect a decrease in oil cargoes to be caused by falling demand and by the oil market condition, including regulatory measures under the OPEC+ deal. At the same time, we expect the amount of transshipped dry cargoes to grow insignificantly following natural demand, which will balance the situation in general,” he said.

The association expects no serious breakthroughs in cargo traffic this year due to contraction of economic activity in the world. “Seaports handle mainly cargoes of Russia’s external trade, it accounts for about 95% of cargo traffic. This is why the expected amount of cargo transshipped by the Russian ports in 2020 wholly depends on success of our exporters and importers, which depends on the general condition of international trade.”

Nothing positive should be expected in passenger transportation. In January–June, the passenger traffic of Russian ports plummeted by 90% on the year to 63,600 people, he added.

End %%md/jst%%