In November 2023, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC transported a record 14.13 million tons of cargo, which is 33.8% more than the average monthly volume of traffic during the year, said Valery Tkachev, Deputy Director of the Commercial Department of UZ, at a meeting with agricultural exporters on Thursday.
According to his information, 6.08 million tons were transported in the export direction in November, which is 24.7% more than a month earlier. This is also the highest figure in 2023.
“The main growth was due to the partial resumption of cargo shipment from the ports of Odesa,” explained Tkachev.
It is specified that in the structure of export transportation in November 2023, the first place was taken by grain cargo – 2.43 million tons (39.9%), the second place was taken by iron and manganese ore – 2.32 million tons (38.1%), and the third place was taken by ferrous metals – 0.41 million tons (6.7%).
In addition, in January-November 2023, the volume of grain cargo transported by UZ amounted to 19.989 million tons, which is 150.6 thousand tons, or 0.8%, more than in the same period of 2022. In November, the company exported 2.43 mln tonnes of grain cargo, up 40.4% (700 thsd tonnes) compared to the previous month. The structure of November cargo transportation of agricultural products was dominated by corn – 1,406.0 thsd tonnes (57.8%), wheat – 514.0 thsd tonnes (21.1%), and industrial crops – 442.5 thsd tonnes (18.2%).
At the same time, in November, the transportation of grain cargoes to the ports amounted to 1 713.4 thsd tonnes, or 70.5%, which is 1.7 times more than in October 2023.
“We had some suspensions due to bad weather at the end of November. Unfortunately, due to the aggressor’s strikes, we still have such indicators. But thanks to the operation of the temporary (sea grain – IF-U) corridor, we see good dynamics of grain cargo transportation,” stated Tkachev.
He noted that the average daily load in November amounted to 91 thousand tons of cargo, which is 20% higher than in October.
During the first week of December, UZ handled 429.1 thousand tons, of which 18.4% was grain cargo. The average daily load amounted to 79.2 thousand tons. Tkachev explained the decline in this figure compared to November by the weekend, during which elevators were closed.
During this period, 349.58 thousand tons of cargo were transported to seaports and 113.87 thousand tons were transported by land.
“For every 1 ton of cargo overloaded and transported in the direction of the western crossings, there are 3 tons of cargo transported in the direction of the ports, i.e. a ratio of 1:3. This is the usual proportion in the best periods of Ukrzaliznytsia’s operation, which remains the same,” said the UZ representative.
In December 2023, exports of oilcake through border crossings amounted to 59.61 thousand tons, and vegetable oil – 33.79 thousand tons.
As of December 7, the queue at the western border crossings amounted to 9.3 thousand cars, which is 8.4% less than the day before.
