The Port of Klaipėda has reported its results for the first half of the year, demonstrating steady growth in cargo turnover and reinforcing its position as the largest port in the Baltic states. The increase in handling volumes was driven primarily by containerized cargo, maritime transit, and the development of the ship repair sector. According to Port CEO Algis Latakas, the high diversification of the cargo base enables the port to maintain resilience even amidst ongoing geopolitical instability, sanctions pressure, and shifts in global trade.
Container shipping was the primary growth driver. In the first six months, the port handled 7.2 million tonnes of containerized cargo – a 12% increase year-on-year – with container throughput approaching the 700,000 TEU mark. This growth was fueled by increased maritime transit volumes, the launch of a new deep-sea service providing a direct link between Klaipėda and Asia, the expansion of the cabotage route network, and long-term investments in port infrastructure. Ro-Ro shipping also showed positive momentum: ferry-transported cargo volumes reached nearly 3.4 million tonnes (+4%), and the number of transported trucks rose to 173,500, driven largely by routes to Germany and Sweden.
Handling volumes for petroleum products increased by 12% to 2.3 million tonnes, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) throughput rose by 37% to nearly 1.6 million tonnes, supported by stable regional demand and increased supplies to Ukraine. Fertilizer handling grew by 14% to 894,000 tonnes, and vegetable oils and fats saw a sharp 58% increase to 294,000 tonnes, while scrap metal volumes remained steady at the previous year’s level of 565,000 tonnes. The ship repair sector remains an additional factor in the port’s resilience: 46 vessels were repaired or modernized in Klaipėda during the first half of the year, a 31% increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, grain export volumes dipped slightly to 1.3 million tonnes, and the handling of timber, construction materials, and mineral raw materials also declined; this reflects market normalization following the record demand driven by infrastructure projects in Lithuania during the first half of 2025. Despite this, Klaipėda was the only port in the Baltic region to increase cargo throughput during the first half of the year, raising its share of the Baltic port market to 44%. When the Būtingė oil terminal is included, Lithuania accounts for over 54% of the total cargo handling market in the Baltic states.
