No problems with transshipping Belarusian cargoes via Russian sea ports

Nikolai Snopkov explained that once the transshipment of Belarusian cargoes via Baltic sea ports became impossible due to unfriendly actions of a number of countries, Russian port infrastructure came to the forefront for Belarus.

Various options were sought last year, routes, rates, and transshipment costs were calculated. As a result, at the beginning of this year Belarus is fully ready to transport all the necessary cargoes via the sea ports and develop the port facilities further if necessary. “Today we have port infrastructure for Belarus' entire essential export (oil products and potash fertilizers constitute 80% of it). We have sufficient port infrastructure in order to transport the entire volume of our exports,” Nikolai Snopkov stressed.

In his words, the Belarusian side is satisfied both with tariffs and the cost of transshipment. “It is possible to further develop [own port infrastructure] if it is interesting from the economic point of view. As a matter of principle, a port is an excellent business model. It is an economically effective product. I think we will consider further and form new port capabilities of the Belarusian national port with all the opportunities and prospects that go with it,” the official said.

Nikolai Snopkov was asked whether they are getting signals from Baltic states with proposals on resuming freight transportation via their ports. “If we get signals concerning Baltic ports, in particular, Klaipeda and Ventspils, we will think about it. We will have to look at the terms we are offered,” he said.

According to Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Avramenko, 19 Russian ports are used for shipping Belarusian cargoes. In his words, in 2022 Belarus and Russia signed two basic agreements on transshipping oil products and foreign trade cargoes. Those are primarily potash fertilizers, nitrogen fertilizers, metallurgy products, and woodworking goods.