Polish seaports in 2006

Total turnover (1990-2006)

In 2006, Polish seaports handled a total of 55.8 million tons. This is a level similar to that recorded in the previous year (an increase of only 0.4%) and clearly indicates a slowdown in the upward trend, which had been maintained at a level exceeding 8% annually over the last three years. A significant phenomenon is the bidirectional change in the volume of cargo turnover recorded in the largest Polish ports. In Gdańsk and Szczecin-Świnoujście (combined), a decrease in cargo handling of about 4% was recorded, while in the port of Gdynia, an increase of 16% was achieved. Taking into account the difference in absolute turnover achieved in individual ports, the declines in other ports consumed the high growth of Gdynia.

When looking for the causes of upward and downward trends in individual ports in Poland, one should pay attention to the structure of their turnover. The largest increase was recorded in fuels and general cargo. Conversely, the largest declines concerned bulk cargo, coal and coke, and ore. In the case of Gdańsk, this was a decrease of 40.3% and 34.3% for coal and ore, respectively. While in the case of ore this change translates to only 12,000 tons, in the case of coal it means a decrease of as much as 2.79 million tons. A certain compensation for the losses for the port of Gdańsk was the nearly 13% increase in fuel cargo turnover (+1.48 million tons). However, changes in other cargo groups did not significantly affect the situation in the port. Also, in the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście, a 4% reduction in cargo turnover was recorded. The main reason was a reduction in dry bulk cargo turnover by about 20%. As in Gdańsk, this was coal (a decrease of 1,384,000 tons) and ore. Increases in other cargo groups failed to compensate for the losses.

The primary cargo group generating the increase in turnover at the port of Gdynia was general cargo. An increase of 16.1% means an increase in tonnage of 1.2 million tons. This is mainly related to the further dynamic growth of container turnover, as well as the activation of ro-ro transport. A positive trend was simultaneously recorded in the groups: other bulk, grain, and fuels, which translated into a total volume increase of 778,000 tons.