In 2017, Russian grain handled by its port network posted the highest growth rate of any cargo type. This was due to a record-breaking harvest. The Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot) says this totalled 47.87mt (million tonnes), equivalent to an increase of 34.7%.

Of this, 42.608mt was dispatched by sea, which was 29.5% more than the previous year.

Coal and coke shipments were the second fastest growth commodities, increasing by 13.4% to 154.47mt, including 152.58mt of exports.

In third place, oil handled went up 11.1% to 253.22mt.

Barry Cross