There are 64 ports along the coast of Estonia, 31 of them handle commercial shipping and are open to vessels from other countries. Port of Tallinn is one of the fastest developing ports in the Baltic Sea and an authority managing five harbours:
Muuga Harbour - main oil, dry bulk and container port in Estonia, max depth 18 m, ice-free
Old City Harbour - main passenger port in Estonia, max depth 10.7 m
Paldiski South Harbour - scrap metal, timber and roro port, max depth 13 m
Paljassaare Harbour - timber, oil, coal max depth 9 m
Saaremaa Harbour – passenger port
Latvia's economy experienced average GDP growth of more than 7.0% over the past several years. In 2006 it reached 10.2% real GDP growth. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account deficit - more than 15% of GDP in 2006 - and inflation remain major concerns.
Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.7% in 2006, while wages grew 17.6%, contributing to rising inflation. Exports and imports continue to grow strongly, and the current account deficit rose to nearly 10% of GDP in 2006. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities is nearly complete. Foreign government and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy, but foreign direct investment declined in 2006…
