Uralkali in talks with RZD Logistics on shipping potash to China in containers
ST. PETERSBURG. June 10 (Interfax) - Russian Railways (RZD) subsidiary RZD Logistics (RZDL) and potash giant Uralkali signed an agreement at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on joint development of logistics projects, RZDL reported.
The companies plan to explore the possibility of organizing container shipments of Uralkali products from Russia to China, making up trains of empty cars and increasing their routing upon return from China to Russia.
RZDL plans to use rolling stock and other equipment "on market terms" when implementing projects to develop shipments of export product.
"We have acquired competencies in organizing multimodal export, import and transit routes and are seeing growing interest from Russian companies in exporting products to China. [We will offer Uralkali] the most optimal set of logistics services from the door of the production plant to the door of the freight receiver anywhere in China," RZDL chief executive Vyacheslav Valentik was quoted as saying in the press release.
"Increasing the efficiency of shipments is one of the priorities of Uralkali's business operations. The company is considering organizing container shipments of potassium chloride from Russia to China. Cooperation with RZD Logistics will make it possible to explore this issue in detail, as well as increase the efficiency of logistics in general considering RZDL's expertise in organizing multimodal shipments," Uralkali CEO Dmitry Osipov said.