The ports of Klaipeda and Riga have made the biggest progress of cargo loading of all the Eastern Baltic ports in recent years. Klaipeda which plans to have 50 million tons cargo loading capacity is not the only port in the region having big ambitions. The port of Riga plans to build four new terminals and over the period of 6 years to double cargo handling capacity. Riga port saw 150 million euro of investments. Half of the investment is made up of EU money. Now, the Russian cargo makes up 60 per cent of all cargo in Riga port and is still expected to grow.

During the last decade, Riga port developed in more or less the same pace as Klaipeda port. Cargo turnover has double from 15 to 30 million tons per year. This year, the port of Riga plans to handle 34 million tons of cargo, while Klaipeda - over 35 million tons of cargo. Riga port saw the growth of 15 per cent, while Klaipeda saw 20 per cent. The port of Riga, similarly to the port of Klaipeda, sees rapidly growing container handling capacities.

However, compared to the port of Klaipeda, Riga port has one type of exceptional loads, which is Russian coal. Although its share is declining, it is still the largest cargo type in the port. Russia is building new coal terminal port and the capital of Latvia gradually loses this type of cargo. Despite the fact, Riga has been able to compensate this with other types of cargo and exhibit relatively high loading rates.