RZD estimating losses for 'unfriendly' nations in 2022 at 125 mln tonnes of freight

MOSCOW. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Russian Railways (RZD) has drawn up an estimate of the losses of unfriendly countries in 2022 from imposed restrictions, RZD chief Oleg Belozerov said during a plenary session at Transport Week 2022.

"We now see and forecast that unfriendly countries will lose 125 million tons of cargo by the end of the year," he said.

"The railroad is a transport of friendship," Belozerov said. "We cannot work in disconnection with other colleagues. Accordingly, if there are restrictions somewhere - we stop and that's it. As such, colleagues in unfriendly countries have not received this cargo, and freight forwarders have not earned money."

"Friendly countries have already purchased 60 million [tonnes] to date," he said, adding that a "huge increase" is being seen due to work on transport corridors.