Sukhodol port in Russian Far East starts handling imports

VLADIVOSTOK. Oct 3 (Interfax) - The Sukhodol seaport in Primorye, which previously focused only on exports, has begun handling imports.

Customs officials have processed the first import cargo to arrive at the port, which consisted of 548 automobiles from China's Haval and Changan, an Interfax correspondent reported.

"Our plans for further development are to receive about 10,000-15,000 automobiles per month at the port," Sukhodol Seaport LLC CEO Sergei Kropotov told reporters.

The port has devoted its No. 3 dock to handling general cargo, automobiles, heavy trucks and containers.

Sukhodol earlier handled coal on a trial basis and in September President Vladimir Putin officially launched the port's coal terminal by video conference call during the Eastern Economic Forum. The terminal has design capacity to handle 12 million tonnes of coal per year with potential for expansion to 20 million tonnes.

In future, there are plans to turn the port into a multiuse hub that handles containers, grain and other general cargo. There are also plans for liquefied natural gas, methanol and mineral fertilizer facilities and a fish cluster.

Sukhodol Seaport LLC, which is a resident of the Free Port of Vladivostok, is owned by JSC Mezhdurechye , a Kemerovo Region firm controlled by New Mining Management Company LLC, with 25.01%; JSC Port Infrastructure Development Center with 24.79%; and Mikhail Fedyaev and Andrei Gridin with 25.1% each.