The first ships loaded with Lithuanian harvest leave Klaipėda port

The first ships loaded with this year's grain harvest are already passing through the gates of the Port of Klaipeda. Tens of thousands of tonnes of this season's grain have already been shipped by „Bega“. The harvested produce of Lithuanian farmers reaches this company not only by land, but also on the Nemunas. Today, the company „Klasco“ also loaded 33,000 tonnes of wheat onto the bulk carrier „Polsteam rudno“. Other grain handling companies in the port are also filling their ships with the new harvest.

„For Lithuanian farmers, this season has brought one challenge after another. The heaviest hit has been the heavy rains. At the Port of Klaipėda, we waited patiently for the first trucks, wagons and barges to arrive with this year's harvest – the result of farmers' work, which will spread through the Port of Klaipėda to the distant lands of Europe and Africa. Last year was a busy season at the Port of Klaipėda – more than 4 million tonnes were handled. Although this year's harvest started later due to the weather and the results of the same period last year have not yet been achieved, we are not in a hurry to draw pessimistic conclusions – the companies operating in the port accept grain transported by road, rail and inland waterway and are ready to work at full capacity, – says Algis Latakas, Director General of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.

Klaipeda Sea Cargo Company „Bega“ has already launched two ships loaded with 30–40 thousand tons of grain each, and these days as many as three ships are being loaded at the same time.

The specialised grain handling terminal of Spain's „Bega“ receives agricultural products by all modes of transport - road, rail, inland waterway and barge.

„This season we are experiencing increased grain logistics by rail. On the one hand, LTG Cargo, the LTG Group's freight company, has added several hundred new wagons to its fleet to transport cereals, while on the other hand, poorer weather conditions and higher humidity mean that farmers are less able to transport their harvested grain directly from the fields to the port, as they usually do by road, and more often have to deliver it to dryers and elevators, which have better access to the railway;– says Laimonas Rimkus, Managing Director of „Bega“.

A new grain transport route to the company has been opened up – inland waterways. Grain transport on the Nemunas has continued this year – it has been going on since the start of the shipping season. The new harvest is now also being transported to the „Bega“ terminal in this way – barges reach the company every week.

The load is also picking up at another leader in this segment, „Klasco“ the first vessel of the season was filled with grain these days. After its departure, the loading of two more vessels is underway: the „Gurnet bay“ will be loaded with around 33,000 tonnes of barley, the „Yasa Magnolia“ with 38,000 tonnes of wheat.

„Despite the challenges – the delayed harvest and the impact of other adverse weather conditions, this season's Lithuanian grain harvest has already started to be exported through the port of Klaipėda. Our terminal is working at a normal pace and the team is ensuring that grain reception and shipment runs smoothly," says Vitalij Mushtuk, General Manager of „Klasco“.

Last year, Lithuania's grain harvest amounted to 6.4 million tonnes, most of which was shipped through the Port of Klaipėda - 4.1 million tonnes. Part of the harvest remained in Lithuania for our national needs. Last year, grain handling was most active in September.

The largest shipments of last year's harvest were to Nigeria, South Africa and Spain.

The Port of Klaipėda is able to handle a total of 5.8 million tonnes of grain per year. Companies are making the most of this potential - around 70% of it.