“The annual start of new grain harvest loading is an important time. The port becomes even more vibrant, the volume of work increases, so terminals prepare specifically and in advance to receive these cargoes. After a difficult start to the year for this segment, loading is steadily growing, and we are approaching the season’s peak. We aim for hard-working farmers to receive high-quality services that meet their needs at Klaipėda port, and for Klaipėda port to be the first choice for product export. Last year, almost 4 million tons of grain were transshipped at Klaipėda port. We expect no worse results this year,” says Algis Latakas, General Director of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.
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New solutions being implemented
This year’s new harvest grain loading season at Klaipėda port started a little earlier than last year, and currently, loading has already gained momentum, with the season’s peak beginning. The company “Bega” has already dispatched three vessels with this year’s new grain harvest. They transported over 100 thousand tons of grain to customers. By the end of this month, “Bega” forecasts that it will have loaded approximately seven vessels, carrying about 35–45 thousand tons of grain shipments. In addition, a sufficient quantity of new harvest grain has already been accumulated in the terminal’s storage tanks; the grain is transported both by rail and road, and for the third season, some of it is also delivered to “Bega” company’s terminal by inland waterway – barges via the Nemunas river.
“In recent years, we have expanded the physical infrastructure for receiving road transport and testing grain samples, and improved the electronic pre-registration system. The company “Bega” was the first in the port to implement such a system seven years ago, and now we can state that it has proven very successful – when pre-registered road transport arrives on time, we serve it in the shortest possible time, which allows us to successfully regulate transport flows, avoid queues, not overload city streets, and efficiently process larger quantities of export grain. This is especially important recently due to rising fuel prices, which have increased the cost of grain logistics between elevators and port terminals,” says Laimonas Rimkus, General Director of “Bega”.
The Malkų įlankos terminal also streamlines grain reception processes, where almost 100 thousand tons of grain have already been loaded this season. The company installed additional infrastructure for grain-transporting vehicles and implemented a new pre-registration system, allowing farmers to reserve grain delivery times in advance. This solution
helps to plan logistics more efficiently, reduce waiting times, and ensure a smoother grain delivery process during the busiest harvest period.
“For the terminal, the grain season is not just a period of increased loading – it’s a test of the entire chain’s ability to quickly adapt to the harvest pace. It is important for us to provide grain growers and traders with as much flexibility and efficiency as possible: we receive up to 300 vehicles per day, and most of them leave the terminal less than an hour after arrival. This season, we are paying special attention to ensuring that all stages of the loading chain operate as a single process. The shorter the path from field to ship and the fewer disruptions along the way, the more competitive Lithuanian grain exports become,” says Julius Kiršis, Director of Malkų įlankos terminalas.
Grain loading and export trends
The company “Klasco” has also already loaded and dispatched the first vessels with this year’s harvest from the port. Grain continues to flow quite intensively into this terminal – about 100 road vehicles are received per day, and about 600 wagons with various grain and oilseed crops arrive by rail per week. Significant growth in flows is expected in the near future.
Evaluating current trends, port companies hint at expected results no worse than last year.
“The export potential of grain and oilseed crops can reach approximately 5.2 million tons. However, the final loading results through the port will be determined by harvest quality, export price dynamics, and the vessel program formulated by traders. In turn, we expect an active season, so in the coming months, we will focus on prompt harvest reception, efficient flow management, and a smooth and uninterrupted vessel loading process,” says Vitalij Muštuk, General Director of “Klasco”.
The Lithuanian Association of Stevedoring Companies emphasizes that the rather dynamic international grain market background this year could be beneficial for Klaipėda port. A smaller wheat harvest is predicted in Europe than last season, and grain prices remain highly sensitive to both weather conditions and geopolitical events. The situation in the Black Sea region currently has a particularly significant impact on the market – any disruptions to exports, ports, or shipping are quickly reflected in global trade and prices. According to L. Rimkus, President of the association, in such a market, not only the price and quality of grain become important to buyers, but also the ability to ensure stable and predictable supply. Therefore, Lithuania and Klaipėda port have their advantages – accumulated export experience, developed logistics, and capacities to promptly form and load large vessel batches of grain.
Representatives of port companies also emphasize that it is necessary to ensure that as large a portion as possible of the harvest grown in Lithuania and intended for export is transported using Lithuania’s transport infrastructure and Klaipėda port.
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