Rosmorrechflot expecting freight turnover of Russian seaports to grow 7% in 2024
MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) - The Federal Agency of Sea and River Transport (Rosmorrechflot) is forecasting growth of cargo turnover of Russian seaports in the coming year at 7% compared to 2023 figures, the acting head of Rosmorrechflot Boris Tashimov told reporters.
"This year we saw about 7% growth, I expect that it [cargo turnover growth next year] will be no less. The current year in relation to last year saw growth of about 7%, this year we will see 900 (million tonnes), respectively, we will probably add the same amount next year," Tashimov said in response to a question about the cargo turnover forecast for Russian seaports in 2024.
According to him, in 2024 Rosmorechflot expects an increase of about 60-65 million tonnes in port capacities due to commissioning of 9 large facilities. "This is the port of Ust-Luga, ports in the Azov-Black Sea basin, we have to complete a number of facilities in the Far East, respectively, we expect that this will be about an additional 60 million tonnes," he said.
"This year we have actually commissioned 22 million tonnes, and today or tomorrow we expect additional commissioning of 3 more facilities. These are additional capacities in the port of Taman, separate stages in the port of Sukhodol in the Far East and facilities in the port of Vanino," Tashimov added.
In general, this year the design capacity of Russian seaports will exceed 1.33 billion tonnes, by the end of 2024 Rosmorrechflot expects to approach a level of 1.4 billion tonnes.
Tashimov also noted that Rosmorrechflot is currently considering 15 new investment declarations for the construction of port facilities. These are for the Ust-Luga, Vostochny, Temryuk and Taman ports. The cargoes declared are different, he said, including containerized and chemical cargoes. The projects mainly involve non-budget financing.
Cargo turnover of Russian seaports in 2023 may grow up to 900 million tonnes, Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said earlier.
According to Rosmorrechflot, freight turnover at Russian ports in 2022 grew 0.7% relative to 2021 to 841.5 million tonnes.