According to the information provided by Ukrainian Ministry of Communications, volume of cargo transported to the state-owned ports totaled 7.469 million tons in October 2006 (+9.3%, or +639.4 thou tons, year-on-year, RZD-Partner reports. The growth is said to be attributed to increased transit, which amounted to 3.016 million tons in October (+34.1%, or +767 thou tons against October 2005). Growth against September totaled 203 thou tons (+7.2%). Coal transit grew by over 50% (+58.1%, y-o-y) to 1.627 million tons. Transit of ferrous metals grew by 14.9%, y-o-y, to 281.3 thou tons; oil cargo - +24.7% to 119.8 thou tons; fertilizers - +37.1% to 412.8 thou tons.
At the same time, export cargo coming to the ports by railway continued to decrease: in October it fell by 2.8%, or by 127.4 thou tons, y-o-y to 4.453 million tons and by 9.4%, or 459.8 thou tons against September 2006. In particular, export of coal fell by 40.8%, y-o-y, to 132.5 thou tons, oil cargo – by 66.7% to 127.9 thou tons, timber – by 15% to 122.3 thou tons. Export of metal cargo, considered to be strategic cargo for Ukraine ports, grew by 14.4%, y-o-y, to 2.385 million tons (+0.1% against September 2006).