Trends in the railway transportation market in Russia

In 2021, 6.5 million TEU of freight was transported by Russian railroads. This is 12.1% more than in the previous year. And this is an absolute record!

The most active-ly growing segment is accelerated contain-er trains. Over the past year, 35 thousand RCTs were dispatched and more than 1,000 destinations were involved. More than in the entire history of these ship-ments.

This significant growth is due to an increase in transit transportation through Russia. The reason for this is the change in global logistics routes. Carriers are more actively using the Trans-Siberian Railway and the Silk Road. Compared to last year, export shipments grew by 34.4%, and for the first time amounted to more than one million TEU. Cargoes that account for the largest volume of export shipments: products of chemical and timber processing industries, food products (for example, a record amount of fish was transported in 2021). I think the trends for transportation of natural resources and food products will continue this year.

Other segments also showed growth: imports - by 13.6%, and intra-Russian transportation - by 6.4%. At the same time, the average annual growth of container transportation over 5 years amounted to 14.7%.

In 2021, there is an active introduction of contrailer transportation. This is combined automobile-railroad transportation. When a car trailer or a truck with the whole cargo is fixed on the railroad platform. Upon arrival at the destination station, the car is unloaded from the platform and travels to the client. Such transportation is fast, economical and environmentally friendly. And often - and the only possible option, (for example, in the absence of a highway on some parts of the route). Since this is a new type of transportation (everything new is well forgotten old), large volumes and experience have not yet been gained.

2021 gave an impetus to the development of the legislative framework and the development of technical aspects of the use of such transportation. Contrailers will gain popularity and be actively introduced into logistics practice.

Transportation in tank-containers can also be singled out as a separate segment of railway transportation development. This type of shipments will grow, as there is a need for alternative delivery of LNG, oil products and other bulk products. In 2021, we faced the fact that the railroad could not cope with the increase in cargo traffic. Terminals were physically unable to accommodate all incoming trains. Delivery times were being disrupted and delays were up to 4 weeks! Therefore, if there is an alternative to rail transportation, many people will use the proposed service.

Jam Modern Logistic has many branches, agents and partners in different cities and countries. Thanks to this, we get up-to-date information online. We learn first-hand about the situation at border crossings, ports and terminals. This allows us to plan our work competently, analyze the situation, anticipate possible difficulties and look for the best solution.