Grain cargo turnover on Latvian Railways has increased by 32 per cent in the first ten months of 2023, compared to the same period last year. According to the Latvian Ministry of Transport, grain flows from Ukraine have contributed to the growth. However, the overall performance of railways in the country has dropped in the same period, with the total rail cargo turnover decreasing by 28,9 per cent.

The same trend is noted at Latvian ports. The increasing grain volumes on rail have Latvian ports as their destination for transhipment and forwarding. Consequently, all three major Latvian ports, Riga, Liepaja and Ventspils, have benefitted from that. The port of Riga saw a 26,3 per cent increase in transshipped cargo volumes between January-October 2023. In Liepaja, grain cargo turnover increased by 15,2 per cent in the same period, while in Ventspils by 14,5 per cent.

Attracting customers main priority

The Latvian Ministry of Transport also highlighted that among the main priorities for the country’s logistics sector is to attract new customers. The country has been heavily impacted by sanctions imposed on Russia, practically losing the bulk of its previous customers and transport volumes. The situation affects primarily rail but also the sea shipping sector.

“The priority is still attracting cargo, meeting with foreign businessmen and potential partners to discuss possible cooperation and create new transport logistics routes,” stressed the Ministry, signalling that Latvia is still far from stabilising its transport sector in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.

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