Ukrainian Railways cuts grain transportation by 33% in May
MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Railways transported 1,836,000 tonnes of grain in May 2023, down 33% from the previous month, deputy head of the Ukrainian Railways department of commerce Valery Tkachev said at a meeting with agribusinesses on Thursday, as quoted by the Ukrainian media.
In his words, 1,147,000 tonnes of grain were exported last month, 46% less than in April. Another 683,000 tonnes of grain were transported domestically, which is 16% less than in April. An average daily amount transported in May stood at 44,000 tonnes.
"Two factors have led to lesser transportation, namely, the grain corridor schedule, which impacted cargo delivery to ports by rail, and the blocking of exports through solidarity corridors by European countries, which halved cargo transshipment across the western border of Ukraine," Tkachev said.
In his words, Ukrainian Railways has sufficient reserves and is ready to boost transportation.
According to current reports of Ukrainian Railways, 380,000 tonnes of grain were loaded on the first week of June 2023, which was 15% of the total cargo. In that period, the average daily transshipments reached 54,000 tonnes, or 2.2 times more than in April.
The actual average daily transshipment of agricultural products through border checkpoints increased by 90 cars in June 2023, compared to May. The daily number of grain cars increased by eight, Tkachev said.
A total of 9,740 cars, including 1,084 loaded with grain, are headed to the western border. The number of cars awaiting transshipment of agricultural produce has decreased by 343 (24%), he said.
"The concentration of cars is dissolving as the pressure on borders gets balanced. The pressure on western borders reduces as long as the grain corridor remains in operation. Transshipment through European countries has also intensified," Tkachev said.
Speaking of grain transshipment on the Ukrainian-Polish border, he said that the Yagodin-Dorohusk checkpoint daily cleared 17.3 grain cars on the average in May. Twenty cars were cleared at the Izov-Hrubieszow checkpoint, alongside 22.13 at the Mostyska-Medika checkpoint. An average of 47.7 cars were daily cleared at the Vadul-Siret-Dornesti plus 8.5 at the Dyakovo-Halmeu checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Romanian border.
On the Ukrainian-Hungarian border, 39.5 cars were daily cleared on the average at the Chop-Zahony checkpoint in May, in addition to 25.6 at the Batyevo-Beterski checkpoint. The highest number of cars cleared per day in May was 93.9.
"An analysis of statistical data posted by all western checkpoints in the first five months shows a 1.5 to 5 time decline in transshipments. The remaining export restrictions amid the allowed transit have a significant impact on grain exports across western borders," Tkachev said.
As of June 8, 2023, 2,663 grain cars were in transit to Greater Odessa ports, he said. On the average, 493 grain cars are unloaded per day in June. The waiting time is 4.9 days.
As of June 8, 1,656 grain cars were on their way to the Ismail port. The waiting line shrank by 23.48% since May 29. On the average, 122 grain cars are unloaded per day in June. The waiting time is 11.3 days.
"The situation remains difficult in Ismail because of a large concentration of cars. Cars destined for the port are loaded with due account of handling capacities of consignees and operators, which, however, unload much less than planned because of weather conditions," Ukrainian Railways said.