6 Aug 2009 15:59

RZD cuts freight 21.7% in Jan-July; down 13.2% in July

MOSCOW. Aug 6 (Interfax) - Russian Railways (RZD) shipped 618 million tonnes of freight in January-July 2009, 21.7% less than in the same period last year, RZD said in a statement.

Shipment of coal in the seven months was down 11.5% year-on-year to 150 million tonnes, coking coal - down 31.2% to 5.4 million tonnes, oil and product - down 2.9% to 132.3 million tonnes, iron ore and manganese ore - down 18.6% to 53 million tonnes, iron and steel - down 31.2% to 35.3 million tonnes, chemical and mineral fertilizers - down 19.5% to 21.8 million tonnes, construction materials - down 40.2% to 72.2 million tonnes and cement - down 28.3% to 16.3 million tonnes.

Shipment of grain and flour rose 12.1% in the seven months to 12.8 million tonnes.

Freight turnover in January-July was down 19.6% to 1.027 trillion tariff tonne-kilometers, including 161.5 billion tariff tonne-kilometers in July, 10.7% less year-on-year.

Freight shipment in July fell 13.2% year-on-year to 97.2 million tonnes.

Freight shipment was up 1.6% in July compared with June 2009. Shipment of coking coal in the month was up 11.7% compared with June, coal - up 2.7%, iron and steel - up 10.8%, ferrous scrap - up 0.4%, cement - up 4.4%, chemical and mineral fertilizers - up 6.6%, but shipment of oil and product was down 1%, iron ore and manganese ore - down 0.9%, grain and flour - down 7.8% and construction materials - down 0.1%.

Freight shipment for coal increased by 5.5% in July compared with July 2008, but shipment of coking coal was down 4.8%, iron ore and manganese ore - down 11.9%, ferrous metals - 20.5%, chemical and mineral fertilizers - down 16.4%, construction materials - down 28.7%, oil and product - down 1.6%, grain and flour - down 13.1%, ferrous scrap - down 47.6% and cement - down 8.5%.

RTS$#&: RZHD