Loading on the Russian Railways network in April 2024 amounted to 101.7 million tons, which is 3.6% less than in the same period last year, according to the monopoly's website (ist.).
Cargo turnover in April 2024 decreased by 4.9% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 211 billion tariff tonne-km. Freight turnover, taking into account the mileage of wagons in empty condition, decreased by 5.5% during the same time and amounted to 260.1 billion ton-km. Cargo turnover since the beginning of 2024 decreased by 6.6% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 840.2 billion tariff tonne-km, cargo turnover, taking into account the mileage of wagons in empty condition, decreased by 6.9% during the same time and amounted to 1041.3 billion tonne-km. The results recorded in April are 0.9% behind the forecasts of the holding.
Alexey Shilo, Deputy Head of Russian Railways, previously stated that by the end of April 2024, loading will amount to 102.6 million tons. The total volume of loading in the first four months of 2023 reached 397.6 million tons, which is 3.26% less than in the same period last year, when 411 million tons were loaded on the network.
A decrease in the loading of some bulk cargoes caused by unscheduled repairs at shippers' enterprises and the introduction of restrictions on the export of petroleum products by the government had a negative impact on volumes. In April, the network maintained low demand for coal transportation to southern ports, as well as a reduction in the presentation of construction materials amid the completion of major infrastructure projects.
According to the results of January – April 2024, the loading of the main nomenclature – coal decreased by 5.3% year-on-year to 115.1 million tons. At the same time, the loading of ferrous scrap (-18%), construction goods (-14.6%), non-ferrous ore (-9.2%), iron ore (-6.4%), oil and petroleum products (-2.4%) decreased. Chemical and mineral fertilizers (+11.4%), industrial raw materials (+22.4%), grain (+6.7%), coke (+4.4%), other cargoes, including cargo in containers (+2.4%) remain in the black this year.
