Lithuania's southern neighbour Belarus plans not only to increase the already significant volume of cargo exported through Klaipeda but have a bigger say in the port's business, writes news2biz LITHUANIA.

At the recent Lithuania-Belarus business forum in Lithuania's only port city, the Belarus side announced that the state-owned Belaruskalij fertilizer producer is acquiring for USD 30m a 30% stake in Biriu kroviniu terminalas, a fertilizer reloading terminal, controlled by a Klaipeda transport investor.

The Lithuanian company has not confirmed the deal but commented that talks are indeed underway.

Belaruskalij is a global-scale player in potash mineral fertilizers and the biggest producer in the former Soviet Union. Klaipeda has long competed with Latvia's Ventspils for the status of the fertilizer giant's preferred export port. Belarus' government plans selling a 10-15% stake in Belaruskalij to an investor. Reportedly, potential suitors from China, India, Europe and the Arab world are interested in the deal.

The Belarus side is also interested in acquiring Bega, another bulk and liquid fertilizer reloading specialist in Klaipeda with a 6m tonne annual capacity that is planned to rise to 10m tonnes by 2020. At the end of last year the company constructed an LTL 80m agriculture product terminal.