In August, Ukrzaliznytsia increased the volume of cargo transportation by 13.8% due to the activation of domestic transportation

In August 2023, Ukrzaliznytsia transported 12.266 million tons of cargo in all types of connections. This is 13.8% more than in August 2022 and in line with July 2023, despite a drop in export shipments due to the blockage of the grain agreement.

Traditionally, the leaders in terms of transportation volumes in August 2023 were construction materials (3.203 million tons), hard coal (2.348 million tons), iron and manganese ore (2.060 million tons), and grain cargo (1.677 million tons).

According to the chairman of the board of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" Yevhen Lyashchenko, the August growth of freight work indicators is due to the intensification of domestic transportation, in particular, construction cargo for the restoration of the country's infrastructure.

Thus, the total volume of domestic rail transport in August 2023 increased by 34.5% to August 2022 and amounted to 8.312 million tons. In particular, transportation of construction materials increased by 64% (up to 2.988 million tons), which is 36% in domestic traffic. Transportation of hard coal through the territory of Ukraine in August increased by 15.2% (up to 2.284 million tons), grain cargoes — by 56% (up to 744.3 thousand tons), iron and manganese ores — by 38.5% (up to 680.7 thousand tons).

On the other hand, for objective reasons, a drop in exports by 17.7% to 3.297 million tons was recorded in August. In particular, transportation of the main strategic cargo — grain — showed a 45.3% drop in August 2023 (to 875.8 thousand tons).

"Blocking sea ports and the grain corridor, limiting the capacity of our European partners lead to a decrease in the export of Ukrainian cargo, however, we expect a change in this trend in the active autumn transportation season and once again emphasize that Ukrzaliznytsia is ready to transport many times larger volumes of cargo and actively participate in building the necessary infrastructure and finding all possible ways of connecting Ukrainian shippers with European clients," Yevhen Lyashchenko stated.

He also reminded that the other day Polish and Ukrainian railways agreed on joint work on the development of passenger and freight rail transport between the countries in order to increase the export-import potential. This is the first agreement of this level between the railways of the two countries since 1994.

In addition, Ukrzaliznytsia is looking for opportunities to expand railway corridors to the Baltic ports, because currently the ports of Lithuania have significant untapped potential, so the organization of a competitive alternative route for the delivery of Ukrainian agricultural products and rolled metal to the Baltic sea ports, as well as for the import of energy carriers to Ukraine may become promising long-term strategy.

IC UAC according to UZ