Ukrzaliznytsia overcomes mark of 1 mln tonnes of exported grain since early Aug

KYIV. Aug 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – JSC Ukrzaliznytsia for the period from August 1 to August 23 exported 1.16 million tonnes of grain cargo, which is 28% more than in July (917,000 tonnes), including 549,000 tonnes transported through land border crossings on the western border (in July – 716,000 tonnes), and 467,000 tonnes delivered to ports (last month – 190,000 tonnes).

For 23 days of August, Ukrzaliznytsia loaded 1.16 million tonnes of grain cargo into wagons, which is 17% of the total loaded volume of 6.9 million tonnes, such data were announced by Valery Tkachev, Deputy Director of the Ukrzaliznytsia Department of Commercial Work, during an online meeting with participants industry on Thursday.

"In March, we had 41,600 tonnes in export traffic, in July – 917,000 tonnes, and in 23 days of August we already have 1.16 million tonnes. Congratulations to everyone, I already see that we are gradually increasing the volume of transportation, but this is still not enough. Let me remind you that before the war we transported up to 4 million tonnes in export traffic per month," Tkachev specified during the meeting.

He explained that such an increase in exports to Ukraine was ensured by the Istanbul grain agreements, which unblocked the export of grain cargo from three seaports in Odesa region in August.

"The share of grain both in terms of loading, and in the delivery of wagons, and at joints is growing. This indicates that farmers quickly adapt to the military situation and begin to load and transport more," the deputy director commented on the increase in the share of grain cargo to 17% in August from 14% in July.

According to him, for August 1-23, the average daily loading of Ukrzaliznytsia wagons amounted to 50,200 tonnes, while earlier this figure was 39,000-47,000 tonnes.

According to Tkachev, since the beginning of August, Ukrzaliznytsia has exported 71,000 tonnes of sunflower oil, as well as 78,000 tonnes of cakes and meals of all kinds.

The deputy director specified that by August 23, the average daily handling of all types of wagons at border crossings had dipped slightly, to 1,840 wagons from 1,860 wagons in early August, however, the transfer of wagons for grain increased by 12%, to 444 wagons per day versus 390 wagons at the beginning of the month.

The Ukrzaliznytsia representative clarified that the total queue at the crossings as of August 23 amounted to 27,100 cars of all nomenclatures, while at the beginning of the month it was 14% more, 31,500 cars. At the same time, by August 23, there were 8,700 wagons with grain (less by 12% versus the beginning of the month) and 506 wagons with vegetable oil (less by 41%) in the queue.

"In general, the transfer of wagons at joints is increasing, the queues with grain are decreasing, while we still have a difficult situation at the Romanian border crossings [Vadul-Siret – Diakove], at the Polish border crossing Yahodyn-Dorohusk, where business has actively gone, and the difficult situation remains at Batevo – Eperjeske," Tkachev summed up during the meeting.