Lithuanian port signals readiness to resume Belarus fertilizer handling

The port of Klaipeda has declared its technical readiness to resume handling fertilizer shipments from Belarus, pending a political decision, according to its chief executive.

Algis Latakas, the port’s general director, said Klaipeda is prepared to work with any type of cargo permitted under prevailing regulations, as competition for transit volumes intensifies among regional ports. He said the infrastructure needed to handle Belarusian fertilizers remains in place.

Sanctions imposed on Belarusian fertilizers have significantly reduced cargo flows through Klaipeda, once a key export route for products from state-owned producer Belaruskali. Before the restrictions were introduced, the port handled about 48 million tons of cargo annually, with fertilizers accounting for roughly a quarter of total throughput.

By 2023, total cargo volumes had declined to around 32 million tons, reflecting the loss of transit business related to Belarus. Latakas said the impact of the sanctions extended beyond port operators, affecting shipping companies and railways that relied on the fertilizer trade.

Klaipeda has been seeking to diversify its cargo base in recent years. Still, port officials have repeatedly pointed to the sharp decline in volumes following the halt of Belarusian fertilizer shipments as a significant challenge for revenues and utilization rates.