In 2024, Ukrzaliznytsia JSC (UZ) increased the volume of cargo transportation in containers by rail by 28% compared to the previous year – up to 258185 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), said Valery Tkachev, Deputy Director of the Commercial Department.
According to him, 162,725 TEUs (63%) were transported on export routes, imports amounted to 55,689 TEUs (21.3%), domestic transportation – 38,681 TEUs (15%), and transit – 1,190 TEUs (0.5%).
The leader among cargoes in terms of containerized transportation was grain cargo, which accounted for 46% of the total volume of transportation, ferrous metals – 20%, oil cake – 9%, oil – 8%, sugar – 4%, synthetic resins – 3.7% and starch and molasses products – 3.6%.
Tkachev noted that one of the main trends in intermodal transportation through Ukraine in 2024 was the absence of a seasonal/peak increase in cargo transportation in November-December, although this period is usually characterized by a seasonal increase in transportation.
According to the UZ representative, the possible reasons for this phenomenon were the low cost of using grain cars – UAH 200-300 per day, which prompted farmers to return to using this type of cargo transportation. Also, due to the reopening of seaports, grain exports have been reoriented – 86-92% of grain is exported through seaports, and grain is transported to ports in grain wagons.
The reduction in the cost of using grain wagons also led to a decrease in the volume of grain cargo transportation in containers in the second half of 2024.
Tkachev also added that the share of rolling stock used by Liski, in particular, fitting platforms, decreased by 24%.
