The Rostock ports recorded a total cargo volume of 28.2 million tonnes (gross) in 2007. This represents an increase of five percent over 2006’s results. Cargo moved through the Rostock Seaport accounted for 26.5 million tonnes of this figure, while the Chemicals Port, Cargo and Fisheries Port and other port facilities recorded a combined total cargo volume of 1.7 million tonnes.

Rostock Seaport
The Rostock Seaport is Mecklenburg Vorpommern’s main transshipment center for cargo of all types. Rostock’s port industry was able to surpass the previous year’s results and record an increase in cargo throughput of 1.3 million tonnes (up 5 percent) over 2006’s figures. The gross cargo volume of 26.5 million tonnes marks a new record high. “The cargo throughput results for 2007 are mixed”, commented Ulrich Bauermeister, Managing Director of Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock. “Increases were recorded in the handling of ferry, liquid and general cargoes; however, less bulk cargo and Ro-Ro cargo was handled than in 2006.”
Ferry cargo throughput again accounted for the lion’s share of the total cargo volume, and increased 1.2 million tonnes to a total of 15.1 million tonnes in 2007, up 9% from the previous year. Ro-Ro cargo throughput fell by 160,000 tonnes to a total of 1.28 million tonnes, largely attributable to the closure of the Ro-Ro line from Rostock to Uusikaupunki, Finland in January 2007. This line alone accounted for 388,000 tonnes of cargo in 2006. “Rostock’s figures for rolling cargo could have been better in 2007; however, due to seaside capacity shortfalls, the full potential was not able to be tapped”, remarked Ulrich Bauermeister.
The largest increase, in terms of percentage, was seen in liquid cargo, up 36 percent (1.05 million tonnes) over the previous year’s figures. 3.95 million tonnes were moved through the oil port, of which particular increases were seen in crude and heating oil.