Far East grain terminal could attract 11 mln tonnes of Chinese freight
MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - The Far East grain terminal, one of the main investment projects of Russia's United Grain Company (UGC), could attract almost 11 million tonnes of Chinese freight at present, and as much as 20 million tonnes by the year 2030, the company said in a press release, citing UGC chief executive Marat Shaidayev.
"With the Far East grain terminal, the current potential amount of diverted Chinese freight is about 11 million tonnes, and in the future to 2030 it could exceed 20 million tonnes," Shaidayev said at a meeting with grain market experts, the company reported.
The Far East grain terminal is to be built as part of the Big Port of Zarubino project in Primorye.
The northeastern provinces of China are interested in gaining access to Primorye ports due to their convenient location, Shaidayev said.
"There is currently great potential for increasing grain traffic from the northeastern provinces of China to southern ones, which is due, among other things, to forecasts for the growth of grain and meat consumption in China. This will make it possible to increase the volume of internal trade between provinces. If Chinese freight traffic is redirected through the Port of Zarubino it will be possible to significantly reduce delivery times and save on logistics," the company said.
The Far East grain terminal is expected to handle export freight from Siberia and Russia's Far East, as well as transit freight shipped from northeast China to the southern part of the country. The first stage of the project is expected to be carried out by 2020. Cargo handling capacity at this stage will be up to 3 million tonnes per year, and in future capacity will be expanded to 10 million tonnes and eventually to 23 million tonnes of grain per year.
