2012-08-02 12:33:45 - Fast Market Research recommends "Latvia Shipping Report Q3 2012" from Business Monitor International, now available

The Port of Riga is set to hold the top position in Latvia's maritime sector in terms of both total tonnage and container throughput in 2012 following another year of robust growth in 2011.

Riga has a strong position to build on in 2012. Its 2011 throughput enabled the facility to retain its second place ranking amongst the Baltic states' container ports, after Lithuania's Klaipeda.

Over the medium term we project further growth at the port of Riga. Ventspils, the country's second largest port in terms of the total throughput, has started its recovery, as it returned to positive growth in 2011.

Headline Industry Data

* 2012 port of Riga tonnage throughput forecast to grow 9%, over the medium term we project a

21% increase.
* 2012 port of Riga container throughput forecast to grow 13%, over the medium term we project a 30% increase.
* 2012 total trade growth forecast at 7.4%.

Key Industry Trends

Upside Risk From Ventspils Dry Bulk Focus

The Latvian port of Ventspils' plan to build a timber terminal highlights the facility's continued diversification away from an overreliance on liquid bulk cargoes by moving further into the dry bulk market. Ventspils plans to construct a US$18.62mn timber terminal, which is projected to be completed by mid-2013. The project offers upside risk to our already-robust throughput forecasts for the port.


Full Report Details at
- www.fastmr.com/prod/444316_latvia_shipping_report_q3_2012.aspx


European Approval For Port Of Riga Move

The European Commission has approved Latvia's plans to move part of the port of Riga facilities to a new location on Krievu Island, away from Riga's city centre. The project will cost LVL104mn, including LVL54mn provided by the Cohesion Fund. The move will decrease the journey of arriving vessels by 15- 20km, which will make the port more competitive.

Risks to Outlook

The base for growth at Latvia's ports stems from BMI's positive outlook for the country's economy. We project real GDP growth of 2.1% in 2012, down from 5.5% in 2011. However, in line with the projected slowing in Latvia's economic outlook, we still expect growth at the country's ports to slow.

The main risk to our forecasts for Latvia remains the persistent eurozone sovereign debt crisis. A further deepening of the crisis would pose downside risks to most of our forecasts for Latvia's economy and our port throughput projections.

Russia's development of the Ust-Luga port near St Petersburg, as it seeks to handle a larger percentage of its own trade needs, creates another downside risk to our forecasts as it is set to place downward pressure on Baltic states' port throughput.

On the other hand, the investment that Russian firms continue to make into Baltic states' ports and country's facilities' efforts to diversify away from an overreliance on liquid bulk create an upside risk. Another such risk to our forecasts comes in the form of Japanese automobile manufacturer Mitsubishi potentially deciding to use Riga as part of a new transit route for products bound for its assembly plant in Kaluga, Russia.

Partial Table of Contents:

SWOT Analysis
- Latvia Shipping SWOT
- Latvia Political SWOT
- Latvia Economic SWOT
- Latvia Business Environment SWOT
Global Overview - Container Shipping
- Executive Summary: Rate Decline Risk, Threat Of Another Year Of Losses
- Slowing Demand A Major Threat To Freight Rates
- Carriers Thinking Outside Box On Overcapacity, Can Rate War Be Avoided?
- Lines Must Tackle High Bunker Prices To Avoid Impact On 2012 Bottom Line
- Evergreen's Order Raises Questions For Future Of Box Fleet Expansions
Global Overview - Dry Bulk Shipping
- Executive Summary: Rates Struggling To Recover From 25-Year Low
- Bleak Demand Outlook Gives Cause For Concern
- Lines Withhold Payments As Shipping Struggles In Depressed Market
- Vale's Valemax Woes Continue, Vessel Values And Demand Plunging
- Orders Continue As Lines Take Advantage Of Bargain Basement Prices
- Record Dry Bulk Scrapping Levels No Match For Global Fleet
Global Overview - Liquid Bulk Shipping
- Executive Summary: Bearish View Maintained Despite Industry Optimism
- Will Increased Asian Crude Imports Offset Excess Tonnage?
- More Pain For US Tanker Operators Despite Investor Confidence
- 2012 Political Impact On Crude Oil Shipping Emanating From Iran
- Tanker Operators Scrap In Desperate Attempt To Shore Up Rates
- Tanker Pools To Grow As Operators Seek Safety In Numbers
Industry Trends And Developments
Latvia Container Shipping Market Overview
Industry Forecast
- Port of Riga Throughput Outlook
- Port of Ventspils Throughput Outlook
- Table: Major Port Data, 2008-2016
- Trade
- Table: Trade Overview, 2008 - 2016
- Table: Key Trade Indicators, 2008 - 2016
- Table: Main Import Partners (US$mn)
- Table: Main Export Partners (US$mn)
Company Profiles
- Latvian Shipping Company (LASCO)
- Maersk Line
- Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)
- CMA CGM
- COSCO Container Lines Company Limited (COSCON)
- Hapag-Lloyd
- Evergreen Line
- APL
- China Shipping Container Line (CSCL)
- Hanjin Shipping (Container Operations)
- Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) (Container)
Demographic Outlook
- Table: Latvia's Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 ('000)
- Table: Latvia's Population By Age Group, 1990-2020 (% of total)
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Full Table of Contents is available at:
-- www.fastmr.com/catalog/product.aspx?productid=444316&dt=t

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