Russian rail freight volume rises 8.8% to 1.2 bln tonnes in 2010
MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) - Russian rail freight volume in 2010 rose 8.76% to 1.205 billion tonnes, Russian Railways (RZD) said.
RZD chief Vladimir Yakunin forecast in mid-December that freight volumes would grow 8.7% in 2010.
Shipments of scrap ferrous metal had the highest growth, rising 26.5% to 20.931 million tonnes. Coking coal was up 19.8% to 12.578 million tonnes, containers - up 18.2% to 18.014 million tonnes, industrial raw materials - up 17.4% to 36.085 million tonnes and metallic constructions - up 17.1% to 698,000 tonnes.
Shipment of chemicals and sodas was up 16.3% to 29.006 million tonnes, chemicals and mineral fertilizers - up 16.2% to 45.487 million tonnes, cement - up 14.3% to 33.367 million tonnes, iron and steel - up 12.4% to 72.767 million tonnes, crude oil and product - up 10.8% to 252.712 million tonnes, construction materials - up 11.2% to 142.54 million tonnes, nonferrous ores and sulfur - up 8.6% to 25.392 million tonnes, iron and manganese ore - up 6.8% to 101.908 million tonnes, coal - up 3.9% to 286.303 million tonnes and forest products - up 2.1% to 41.46 million tonnes.
Freight turnover on Russia's rail lines rose 7.8% to 2.011 trillion tonne-kilometers. A total of 110.3 million tonnes of freight was shipped in December 2010, 4.9% more year-on-year. Freight turnover in December was 166.8 billion tonne-kilometers, the same as in December 2009.
Rail freight volumes declined 15% to 1.108 billion tonnes in 2009.
Rail freight was originally forecast to rise 3.7% last year. The forecast was adjusted up to 7.5% in mid-2010, and in December RZD First Vice President Vadim Morozov said volumes would increase 9% in 2010.
RZD expects volumes to rise 3.2% in 2011, in accordance with the economic growth forecast, Yakunin said.
RTS$#&: RZHD