Cargo volume at St Petersburg's First Container Terminal (FCT) grew 17 per cent to 384,618 TEU from January-May year on year, reported Moscow's Analytical News Agency.

According to a FCT statement, container turnover grew in May by 15 per cent to 81,621 TEU year on year. But reefer box volume decreased 8 per cent over the same period to 9,364 TEU.

Exports amounted to 43,909 TEU while imports reached 37,712 TEU. Altogether the terminal handled 56 ships, average turnover per ship was 1,458 TEU.

The FCT was established in October 1998 and specialises in transshipment of containers of various types. Its cargo turnover grew 23 per cent in 2006, totalling 888,827 TEU.