Tighter rules of grain transportation by road to affect grain exports, says UGA

Kyiv, July 17 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian government's tightening rules for cargo transportation by large vehicles could disrupt grain exports from the country, President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) Volodymyr Klymenko has said.

"The government's resolution on a ban on automobile traffic will disrupt Ukrainian grain exports," he said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

Klymenko said that in the current season, Ukraine needs to export a record high amount of grain - 29 million tonnes. In his view, it is impossible to provide the transportation of such volume by rail due to the shortage of grain wagons.

The UGA president said that in the past season 36% of exported grain was delivered by road, whereas earlier the figure was negligible.

The expert said that UGA plans to appeal to the leadership of the country asking for the next six months to suspend restrictions on grain carriage by road. He also suggested that in the current season, due to the need to export a record high volume of grain, there could be problems with grain transportation by rail.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at its meeting on June 26 approved the strengthening of sanctions against the violators of the dimensions and weight characteristics of heavy vehicles.