Interfax-Ukraine reported that Mariupol maritime merchant port in January to August 2009 reduced cargo handling by 27.7%YoY to 8.095 million tonnes.

Metal transshipment over the eight months fell by 16.5%, to 4.32 million tonnes, coal handling by 11.2%, to 2.35 million tonnes, clay handling by 3 times to 624,000 tonnes.

The port had not handled sulphur over the period. Grain handling in the port over the period under review grew by almost 2 times, to 556,100 tonnes.

Mariupol port is one of the largest ports in Ukraine. It accepts vessels of lengths up to 240 meters and drafts of up to eight meters. The port transships iron and base metals, cast iron, ore, coal, coke, clay, fertilizers of all kinds, sulphur, equipment fuel oil, grain, containers and packaged goods.

(Sourced from www.kyivpost.com)