Railway increases grain transportation, but not towards western borders – analysts
The volume of transportation of grain cargo by rail in January-October 2023 reached 17.6 million tonnes, which is 0.7% lower than in the same period in 2022, the UkrAgroConsult analytical agency has reported.
"Transport volumes this year were significantly affected by the end of the grain corridor through the mediation of the UN, the ban on grain imports to some EU countries and lower world prices for agricultural products," the analysts said.
According to the report, the volume of transportation of grain cargo for export in October 2023 totaled 1.7 million tonnes, which is 61%, or 655,000 tonnes more than September figures. At the same time, volumes are almost half the pre-war level of transportation and last year's figures.
At the same time, grain transportation towards ports in October reached 982,000 tonnes, which is 3.2 times more than in September, experts stated and added that this growth was facilitated by the start of work of a new Ukrainian sea corridor for civil ships.
UkrAgroConsult noted a decrease of 2.6% in grain exports through western border crossings in October compared to September of this year, to 748,000 tonnes.