[ad_1]
In late August, in response to sanctions imposed by the Baltic states on him and 29 other members of the regime, the unrecognized leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said he would consult with Russia on the diversion of Belarusian cargo from the Baltic states to Russian ports.
„Reuters“ / „Scanpix“ nuotr./Aliaksandras Lukašenka
This was at least the third time that Lukashenko threatened to deprive Belarusian cargo from the Klaipeda port, but in both 2012 and 2018 Lukashenko did not comply with the strong statements that sounded; on the contrary, Belarus’ cooperation with the Lithuanian port grew every year.
Thus, although the new declaration of A. Lukashenko in August caused a considerable fright in the Klaipeda port companies, the Belarusian cargo passed through Lithuania as usual. Until this Tuesday.
Klaipedos Nafta announced on Tuesday that BNK (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Belaruskaja neftenaja kampanija (BNK), the largest exporter of Belarusian petroleum products, announced a temporary suspension of trade in petroleum products during transshipment through Klaipeda by holding new contracts between BNK and them. customers.
The contractual obligations are suspended indefinitely.
Does this mean that Lukashenko’s threat has finally come true?
A.Latakas: the near future will be seen
According to Mindaugas Navikas, commercial director of Klaipedos Nafta, until the Klaipedos Nafta customer resumes normal commercial volumes when loading petroleum products through Klaipeda, the probability that the Belarusian cargo will not be shipped to Lithuania is considered real enough.
Klaipedos Nafta representatives see political reasons for such a move.
“Judging from the economic arguments, the infrastructure in Klaipeda is the most favorable for the export or, if necessary, the importation of Belarusian oil products. We are currently working with clients in Belarus on a regular basis, we have scheduled cargo for the future. However, we understand that customer decisions are probably not dictated by economic logic, but political, which we cannot control ”, says M. Navikas, Commercial Director of Klaipedos Nafta.
Klaipeda Harbor / Harbor Photo
Algis Latakas, Director of the Klaipeda State Port Authority 15 minutes He stated that it is still difficult to assess whether the message reported by Klaipedos Nafta means that the Belarusian cargo will be interrupted via Lithuania.
“It is very difficult to say whether this is a continuation of the speeches made by the Belarusian side or a stop now. I would not dare to evaluate what the near future will actually look like,” commented A. Latakas.
However, he did not rule out the possibility that these could also be trade deals, as Russian ports are currently very active in trying to take over Belarusian cargo.
“We know that Russian ports have been very active and still are. Of course, they have greater opportunities to take care of liquid cargo, slightly worse opportunities to take care of bulk cargo,” said the director of Klaipeda Seaport.
Photo by Klaipeda State Port Authority / Algis Latakas
He stated that compared to this year, no significant differences were observed in the evaluation of all Belarusian cargoes that are transshipped through the port of Klaipeda (fertilizers, metal products, petroleum products). However, liquid products, a large part of which are oil, fell 17.1 percent year-on-year.
“It is very difficult to say if it is a political issue, but today I would see it more as a certain episodic moment, and as it really is, we will see, we know that the northern ports of Russia (St. Petersburg, other ports) show a great initiative towards Belarus. . the petroleum products would pass to them. At the moment, it is difficult for us to decide for a moment, “said A. Latakas.
“We follow the information every month, but we don’t really see clear forecasts or trends,” added the head of the Klaipeda State Port Authority.
However, when asked if the message reported by Klaipedos Nafta is a sign of concern, A. Latakas said that each statement raises concerns.
Vidmantas Balkūnas / 15 min photo / Klaipeda seaport
“It just came to our notice then. So it remains such a compelling case that you must follow the events of what will happen next. But port activity is too inert for anything to change quickly, it takes time. We have heard the opinion for a long time. from Belarus that it could divert the load to other places. Perhaps it is a consequence, but I would not dare to evaluate it, “said A. Latakas.
We have long heard the opinion of Belarus that it could divert cargo elsewhere. Perhaps it is a consequence, but I would not dare to evaluate it, – said A. Latakas.
Belarusian cargo accounts for 30.5 percent. of general port management.
Belarusian media: Ongoing negotiations with Russia
The independent Belarusian portal Tut.by also reports that Belarus is in intense negotiations with Russian ports, according to the sources.
“Now relations with the Lithuanian side have been suspended because they are negotiating with Russia so that the conditions at its terminals in Ust-Luga and St. Petersburg are not worse. If the conditions are the same, Belarusian oil products will pass through Russian ports, “explains Tut. From a source in the Belarusian oil sector.
“And if they don’t match, then [pagrindinė] part of the cargo will enter the Lithuanian domestic market, only small quantities will pass through Russia, ”said another participant of the Belarusian oil market.
Meanwhile, according to Tut.by, Russia is in no rush to land in Belarus and offer additional concessions for the transportation and transshipment of its oil products. The Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Yuri Tsvetkov, suggested that Belarus apply a tariff for the transport of goods by rail similar to Russia and provide for appropriate concessions. He recalled that the Russian railways had already delivered 50 percent to Belarus. discount in the supply of petroleum products.
Lithuanian Railways – Loss of such a customer would be significant
Meanwhile, Martynas Burba, representative of the Lithuanian railways 15 minutes said the company sent $ 2 million this year. tons of BNK cargo for export and import to Belarus.
This is around 3.7 percent. of the total flow of cargo transported by the company this year. For comparison, the Lithuanian railways mainly transported the load of the fertilizer company Belkalij from all the Belarusian companies. The cargo of this company amounts to 10 million. heaps.
Photo by LG / Lithuanian Railways
Mr. Burba said the loss of a customer like BNK would be significant, but the railways are looking to diversify.
“We are actively seeking the scope of activities, expanding the geography of activities, establishing a company in Poland,” he said. According to M. Burba, the Belarusian cargo flow this year is similar to last year, there are no significant differences.
Increased Belarusian cargo
Russia’s attempts to persuade the Belarusian cargo have been in the past, but they have also failed. In 2005, Belarus and Russia had decided to organize the transshipment of potash fertilizers through the port of Kaliningrad, but despite the famous statements, Belarus did not even send a test batch.
According to data from the Klaipeda State Port Authority, 6.62 million tonnes were handled in the port in 2009. tons of Belarusian cargo (24% of the total cargo), and in 2019 – double, 14.1 million tons. tons (30.5% of the total handling).
In recent years, the share of Belarusian cargo in Klaipeda has only increased, and this year, after a hiatus of several years, tankers carrying oil cargoes to Belarus sailed one after another to the Lithuanian port.
[ad_2]
