Geest Cargo Ship In St. Kitts – Nevis
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
February 10, 2009 (CUOPM)
St. Kitts – Nevis is reporting an increase in imports and exports in 2008 compared to the previous year.
The Department of Finance and Statistics at the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA) reported total imports increased 18 percent from 275,599 tons in 2007 to 326,562 tons in 2008, while exports went up 36 percent from 14,862 tons in 2007 to 20,201 tons in 2008.
SCASPA also reported an increase in the importation of vehicles, cruise lines and cruise passengers and a decrease in lumber and transshipped cargo.
Statistics reveal that the importation of aggregate increased 170 percent from 1,011 tons in 2007 to 2,737 tons in 2008; building materials increased 15.8 percent from 19,896 tons in 2007 to 22,916 tons in 2008; cement imported went up 42.13 percent from 29,333 tons in 2007 to 41,691 tons in 2008 fuel oils, up 21.57 percent from 56,065 tons in 2007 to 68,161 tons in 2008 and general cargo imported also increased 5.65 percent from 124,673 tons in 2007 to 131,716 tons in 2008.
Importation of fertiliser increased 100 percent, from zero tons in 2007 to 7,859 tons in 2008; Frozen or chilled cargo increased 7.74 percent from 18,715 tons in 2007 to 20,164 tons in 2008 and vehicles imported went up 26.70 percent from 21,912 tons in 2007 to 27,763 tons in 2008. Transhipped cargo dropped 35.52 percent from 17,453 tons to 11,254 tons.
The Port Authority reports that export of non-alcoholic beverages from St. Kitts increased 83.92 percent from 1,928 tons in 2007 to 3,546 tons in 2008 while export of non alcoholic remained stable with 3,451 tons shipped in 2007 compared to 3,441 tons in 2008, slightly down 0.29 percent.
Cargo destined for Nevis via St. Kitts also increased from 2,499 tons in 2007 to 4,888 tons in 2008, up 95.60 percent.
The statistics are for St. Kitts only. The Nevis data is collected by the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority.
