Total cargo turnover of Latvian ports in the year 2003 exceeded 54 million tons. Cargo turnover in the first half of 2004 has almost reached 30 million tons. Almost 44% of this year’s cargo turnover was liquid bulk, 37% - dry bulk, 19% - general cargo. Oil and oil products were 40% of the total cargo turnover, coal - 20%, chemicals - 10% and wood products - 11%. With every year number of containers reloaded in Latvian ports increase. In 2003 150 000 TEU were reached, in first six months 2004 – 81 495 TEU. Cargo turnover of the seven small ports in 2003 was 0,9 million tons, in the first six months this year – 0,3 million tons.

Ports of Riga and Ventspils are operating as Freeports for already 10 years. Port of Liepaja is part of the Liepaja Specialized Economic Zone. Companies working in Freeports and SEZ can receive up to 80% tax discount. The amount of rebate depends on investments made during the tax year.

Liepaja is the third biggest port in Latvia and is a relatively new port for commercial operations. Formerly it was the Soviet west coast navy base. It started commercial operations just in 1995. In 2003 cargo turnover reached almost 5 million tons that is increase of 13% compared to the last year. Current capacity of the port is about 7 million tons and it handles mainly timber, metals, fertilizers and Ro-Ro cargoes, as well as bulk and liquid cargoes. There are two regular cargo/passenger ferry lines from Liepaja to Karlshamn (Sweden) and from Liepaja to Rostock (Germany).

Riga port has a capacity of about 20 million tons and it handles mainly general cargo (containers, Ro-Ro cargo, fertilisers, timber) and oil products. Turnover in 2003 exceeded 22 million tons – an increase of 20% compared to 2002. Approximately 97% of all containers handled in ports of Latvia are handled in the Riga Freeport. There are two regular passenger and cargo/passenger ferry lines from Riga to Stockholm (Sweden) and from Riga to Lubeck (Germany). Second ferry from Riga to Stockholm (Sweden) will start to operate from October 2004.

Ventspils – in terms of volume – is by far the biggest port in Latvia as well as on the Baltic Sea. Ventspils has a capacity of about 75 million tons and it handles oil, oil products, potash, chemical goods and general cargo. It has the largest oil terminal in the Baltic Sea: oil and oil products accounted for about 65% of Ventspils’ throughput in 2003 (27 million tons). There is a regular cargo/passenger ferry line from Ventspils to Nynashamn (Sweden) and a new ferry line from Ventspils to Lubeck (Germany) is starting September 2004.

Cargo turnover in the ports of Latvia 6 months 1996 – 2004 (th. t)

Cargo turnover in the port of Liepaja 6 months 1996 – 2004 (th. t)

Cargo turnover in the port of Ventspils 6 months 1996 – 2004 (th. t)

Cargo turnover in the port of Riga 6 months 1996 – 2004 (th. t)

The following table shows distances (in km) along the sea from Riga to: