The state rail company Ukrzaliznytsia transported 150.58 million tons of cargo, according to operational data for 2022, which is 52.1% less than in 2021, RAIL.insider reported on Jan. 5.
The results of the year were discussed during an online meeting of Ukrzaliznytsia with participants in the agricultural transportation market on Jan. 5.
“Cargo transportation almost halved in 2022,” said Valeriy Tkachov, Deputy Director of the Commercial Work Department of UZ.
“All cargoes without exception reduced the volume of transportation. However, it is a very good indicator that the transportation of grain fell the least. According to the results of 2022, Ukrzaliznytsia transported 28.87 million tons of grain. This is only 14.2% less than in 2021… The agrarian market has shown that it is stress-resistant, accepts challenges, and can take a punch.”
He said that this had largely being achieved thanks to an increase to more than 1 million tons per month of grain transportation through the western border crossings, as well as the work of the maritime grain corridor.
Tkachov said he hoped that grain transportation would continue to grow in2023.
Meanwhile, in December 2022, a total of 10.1 million tons of cargo was transported. This is almost 0.4 million less than in November. One of the reasons is the Russian strikes on the energy infrastructure.
At the same time, the transportation of grain, oil products, fertilizers, chemicals, salt and engineering products actually increased in December. Grain transportation exceeded the figures of November by 0.5 million tons (or 18.8%).
Earlier, NV reported that overpriced logistics reduced the profitability of grain production for Ukrainian farmers to almost zero.