Ukrainian Railways boosts freight transportation 4.5% in Aug amid growth in shipping grain

MOSCOW. Sept 2 (Interfax) - Ukrzaliznytsia, or Ukrainian Railways, boosted the volume of cargo transportation 4.5% to 10.787 million tonnes in August from 10.318 million tonnes in July, Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Oleksandr Kamyshin posted on his Telegram channel.

"There has been a substantial increase in grain, our strategic position, with +42% transported primarily owing to the unblocking of seaports," Kamyshin wrote.

Meantime, 2.088 million tonnes of grain were transported in August against 1.447 million tonnes in July, according to the materials presented.

Transportation of petroleum products increased 2.6% to 556,000 tonnes, and shipping of construction materials rose 10%.

Transportation of iron ore decreased 6.8% to 1.895 million tonnes, and shipping of ferrous metals declined 10%. "However, the reason here is clear, as, unfortunately, steel production continues to decline worldwide, though the 10% drop in transporting coal really worries me," Kamyshin posted.

"We are fighting for every tonne of cargo. We are constantly working to increase the export and import potential of the railway. We are building new sections, opening new junctions with neighboring countries, and increasing the throughput capacity of western crossings," Kamyshin wrote.