Company briefs - 2010-02-24

Both Tallinn’s and Klaipeda’s ports succeeded in significantly increasing their cargo volumes in January, while Riga saw its biggest fall for some time, reports Nozare.lv. With the drop in cargo, Riga is now no longer among the top three ports in the Baltic States. The largest increase in cargo volumes was seen in Tallinn’s port, where the figure rose by 25.3 percent, reaching 3.1 million tons. In Klaipeda, cargo volumes grew by 14.1 percent, with 2.5 million tons handled in January. In Riga, volumes decreased by 15.6 percent, to 2.1 million tons. A slightly softer fall was registered in Ventspils, where cargo volumes fell by 10 percent to 2.3 million tons.

Latvian pharmaceutical producer Silvanols has begun to export its products to the Czech Republic, reports Nozare.lv. Exports will include natural balsams products Bronhosan, Larosan and Griposan, under the brand name Silvanbio. A shipment of 15,000 units are ready to be sent, says board member Kaspars Ivanovs. The company already exports to Lithuania, Estonia, Azerbaijan and Romania. This year it plans to enter more foreign markets, as well as expand sales in existing ones. Silvanols plans on revenue of 2 million lats (2.8 million euros) this year. Last year the company’s turnover increased 40 percent compared with 2008.

The group of wood processing companies consisting of Grigiskes and daughter outfit Baltwood fulfilled its objectives and achieved its profit growth forecast for 2009, with turnover of 118.9 million litas (34.4 million euros) and profit of 3.3 million litas before taxes, reports LETA. Grigiskes itself reached a turnover of 109.7 million litas, with profit of 3.7 million litas before taxes. In 2009, successful operation results for the group were reached due to special attention given to sanitary and domestic paper production, and marketing, the company’s statement said. The past year saw extremely beneficial cooperation with Scandinavian partners.