Ukraine’s rail freight volumes rise 12.8% in Oct

JSC Ukrzaliznytsia railway operator transported 13.584 million tons of cargo in October 2023, which is 12.8% up against September.

That’s according to Valeriy Tkachov, deputy chief of the operator’s commercial department, Ukrinform reports.

"According to operational data, in October 2023, 13.584 million tons of cargo was transported by railway (+1.542 million tons, or +12.8% to the volumes of September 2023 and +1.523 million tons, or +12.6% on year) ", the report says.

According to Tkachov, the October volume hit a record high for the entire period of martial law.

In particular, 4.877 million tons (+36.23% against September) was transported in October’s export package. The increase in export rail shipments was due to the resumed operation of the temporary cargo export corridor through the ports of Great Odesa.

In the structure of October export rail shipments, iron ore and manganese dominate took up 1.925 million tons (39% of the total volume of export transportation). Next came grain cargoes with.731 million tons (35%) and ferrous metals with 0.331 million tons (7%).

As reported earlier, JSC Ukrzaliznytsia intends to adjust the conditions for moving its rail cars from a 1,520 mm to a 1,435 mm track. Once the move is complete, the operator is set to offer its fleet of rail cars for use in international cargo shipments.