Ukrainian Railways records freight transportation growth by 45.7% in 1st half of June

MOSCOW. Junen 16 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Railways recorded an increase in railway freight transportation by 45.7% in the period between June 1 and 15 in comparison with the same period in 2022, Ukrainian media outlets said, citing the state-owned company's press service on Friday.

"According to latest reports, railway freight transportation increased by 45.7% in the period between June 1 and 15, 2023, in comparison with the same period in June 2022 and by 12% in comparison with the same period in May 2023. The average daily load grew by 26.2% in the reporting period in comparison with June 2022 and reached 390,400 tonnes," the Ukrainian Railways press service said.

According to the company, the freight transportation amount in domestic traffic increased by 47% in the first half of June in comparison with the same period last year and by 8.3% in comparison with the first half of May 2023, reaching 3.715 million tonnes. Export transportation increased by 50.8% and 19.5%, respectively, and reached 2.191 million tonnes.

Mineral construction materials, bituminous coal, grain and mill products, and manganese and iron ore are leading in terms of volume of the transported cargo, the company said.

Transportation of grain cargoes on June 1-15 increased by 71.2% in comparison with the same period in 2022 and by 24% in comparison with the first half of May 2023, reaching 1.106 million tonnes. At the same time, export transportation of grain increased by 2.3 times and 54.3%, respectively, and reached 849,900 tonnes. Bituminous coal transportation increased by 29.2% and 7.2%, respectively, and reached 1.136 million tonnes, and iron and manganese ore by 12.8% and 2%, respectively, reaching one million tonnes. The amount of transported mineral construction materials increased twofold in comparison with the same period in 2022 and by 24% in comparison with May.

According to Ukrainian Railways Board Chairman Yevgeny Lyashchenko, these figures give grounds for forecasting that the company could approach breakeven results in 2023.

It was reported earlier that Ukrainian Railway increased freight transportation by 19.2% in May.