MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Loading on the Russian Railways network in February 2025 amounted to 87 mln tons, down 9.3% compared to February last year, the holding reported on Monday.
"Loading on the Russian Railways network in February 2025 amounted to 87 mln tons, which is 9.3% less than in 29 days of February last year. Average daily loading amounted to 3.106 mln tons, which is 6% less," the report said.
At the same time, freight turnover for February 2025 decreased by 1.5% in comparison with the same period in 2024 and amounted to 198.1 bln tariff ton-km (the average daily figure increased by 2%), freight turnover taking into account the mileage of empty wagons in the same period decreased by 1.3% and amounted to 245.5 bln ton-km.
Loading for January-February 2025 decreased by 5.6% compared to the same period last year, to 180 mln tons.
As the company noted, in addition to the factor of the leap year 2024, which created a high base for comparison of loading indicators, a number of external factors related to changes in the situation on commodity markets and logistics affected the cargoes in February. "The decrease in activity in the construction sector led to a decrease in the volume of construction cargoes (-22.3%), cement (-16.9%), and ferrous metals (-13.7%) presented in February, and the loading of oil cargoes also decreased by 6.5%. In connection with the redistribution of applications between the production sites of oil holding companies, Russian Railways ensures effective interaction with both shippers and rolling stock operators for the rapid delivery of empty tanks for loading," the holding said.
At the same time, Russian Railways noted that with a general decrease in grain shipments, there was an increase in domestic shipments (+25.2%), mainly from Siberia and the Urals against the backdrop of a large grain harvest in these regions. Bulk cargoes such as coal (+0.5%) and fertilizers (+10.8%) also showed an increase in loading. In addition, the loading of paper (+5.4%) and non-ferrous metals (+13.5%) increased.
"Positive dynamics was also ensured for the export of a number of non-coal cargoes to the East, including fertilizers (+20.1%), iron ore (+11%), and high value-added cargoes transported in containers (+3.1%)," Russian Railways said.
Earlier, Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the authorities and Russian Railways were working on the problem of reducing the load on the rail network.
Loading on the Russian Railways network in 2024 amounted to 1.181 bln tons, a decrease of 4.1% compared to 2023. Russia’s Deputy Minister of Transport Alexey Shilo said that the Ministry of Transport expects the loading on the network of Russian Railways to increase in 2025. Russian Railways predicted loading on the holding's network in 2025 at the level of 1.241 bln tons.