Rail shipments up 1.5% on 2011 in Nov
MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Russian rail shipments were up 1.5% year-on-year in the first 28 days of November 2012, show Russian Railways (RZD) materials that Interfax has seen.
The average daily load since the start of the month was 3.54 million tonnes.
Russia also has cargoes for shipment - sender applications exceed the so-called road project in November by an average of 3.7 million tonnes per day, compared to 3.5 million tonnes.
There is considerable demand for coal shipments (983,900 tonnes per day on average amid a projected 897,200), for oil and petroleum products (771,400 tonnes against 729,500, respectively), chemicals and mineral fertilizer (131,800 tonnes against 117,600), timber (104,500 tonnes against 89,500), and nonferrous ores and sulfur (68,200 tonnes against 56,700).
Earlier on Thursday RZD President Vladimir Yakunin told the press that since the start of November Russia had for the first time since 2008 seen a drop in rail shipments. "November showed a downward trend in shipments, which we see as a signal of a downturn [in the country's economy]. The drop in shipments was the first since 2008. November showed 97%," he said. "This is not because we are working badly - there are no cargoes. December will be very difficult," Yakunin added.
RZD explained to Interfax that Yakunin was taking about implementing the shipment target set by the carrier. Overall for the month there may really be an increase in shipments, a spokesman told Interfax.
Yakunin said that, amid such dynamics, the railway again change its own forecast for 2012 shipments. "In the middle of the year we increased the forecast for the year, relying on Economic Development Ministry predicts. But taking into account a drop in November-December we must return to our original forecast. I have already told the board of directors about these circumstances," he said.
Earlier RZD reviewed its 2012 shipments growth forecast to 3.3% from 2.7%, taking into account the impact of the economic encouragement programs launched by the world's leading economies. The company did note that the International Monetary Fund had in July reduced the global economic growth forecast in 2012 from 3.6% to 3.5% and in October to 3.3%.
So far the rise in shipments for November 2012 is higher than the previous month when it climbed 1.25%. RZD reported that the shipment load in the first 28 days of November was down 1.3% on October 2012, but this is due to a seasonal reduction.