Trutnev puts shortage of transport capacity in Russia's Far East at 49 mln t by 2026

VLADIVOSTOK. March 30 (Interfax) - The shortage of freight transport capacity in Russia's Far East could total 49 million tonnes by the end of 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev said at a meeting the Far East Federal District Council in Vladivostok on Thursday.

"Without the smooth work of border infrastructure, developing international economic ties is difficult, to say the least. [...] The shortage of carrying capacity is expected to be 49 million tonnes by 2025 given the current situation," Trutnev, who is also the Russian president's envoy to the Far East Federal District, said.

On Wednesday Trutnev visited the Kraskino (Primorye) - Hunchun (China) checkpoint, the opening of which has been postponed repeatedly. The latest opening deadline is November 2024.

"On one hand, at least something has started to be done there, construction is underway, one additional lane has been built. [...] a new checkpoint is being built; they're promising to build it in 2024 by November. True, I want to say that they also promised in 2019 to build it. [...] I hope [the new promise] will be fulfilled," Trutnev said.

It was reported earlier that Russian Railways (RZD) shipments through railway checkpoints and ports to China rose by almost a third to 123 million tonnes in 2022.