More than 2 mln tonnes of grain transported from Siberia in 2025 under preferential rail tariff - Agriculture Ministry

MOSCOW. Dec 2 (Interfax) - A preferential railway tariff made it possible this year to transport more than 2 million tonnes of grain from Siberia, where a high yield was obtained, the Agriculture Ministry said following a meeting between Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut and Transport Minister Alexander Nikitin.

The main topic of discussion was the development of logistics and increasing the efficiency of transporting agricultural products from Siberia and the Urals. In Siberia, a grain harvest of almost 18 million tonnes is expected this year, with an export potential exceeding 6 million tonnes.

"Currently, to support grain transportation, a preferential railway tariff is in effect, under which over 2 million tonnes of grain have been transported this year from the regions of the Siberian Federal District," the ministry said. "To relieve the railways and increase export capabilities, the Agriculture Ministry and the Transport Ministry are developing multimodal routes, including directions through Tatarstan and the Samara region with subsequent shipment of grain by river transport."

In addition, the expansion of inland water routes to the ports of the northwest and the Azov-Black Sea basin is being worked out.

The meeting's participants also discussed increasing navigation periods. "Tying its start and end to actual weather conditions will extend the period of operation of inland waterways by up to three months, and on certain sections ensure year-round navigation," the ministry said.