Freight traffic across RZD network fell 2.7% in Nov. 2013, to 103.5 million tonnes
Freight traffic on the network of state-owned Russian Railways in November 2013 decreased by 2.7% year-on-year, to 103.5 million tonnes. Freight turnover climbed by 0.3% to 170 billion t/km, Brunswick Rail bulletin said.
In November 2013, 27.7 mln tonnes of coal were transported, approximately the same levels as in November 2012, while freight turnover reached 68.7 bln tonne-kilometres (up 4.0% against November 2012). Domestic and export coal transport was stable against November 2012, while total freight turnover grew by 3.2% due to an increase of 8.8% in domestic turnover and a rise of 3.2% in export freight turnover. Meanwhile, the price of coal fell by 1.7% to $84.0 per tonne against October 2013.
In November 2013, transportation of oil and products was at 21.3 mln tonnes (down 5.3%), while freight turnover was at 34.0 bln tonne-kilometres (down 4.1%). Export transport fell by 12.5%, while domestic transportation increased by 3.2%. The price of Brent oil rose by 0.8% to 109.7 per barrel against October 2013.
In November 2013, transport volumes were at 3.1 mln tonnes (up 3.0%), with freight turnover at 7.2 bln tonne-kilometres (up 11.7%). In Europe, gas prices rose by 7.2% to €28.2 MW/h against October 2013.
In November 2013, the total volume of construction material freight was at 14.9 mln tonnes (down 5.1%), with freight turnover at 8.1 bln tonne-kilometres (down 2.6%).
In November 2013, transportation of ferrous metals was at 5.6 mln tonnes (down 3.4%), with freight turnover at 9.1 bln tonne-kilometres (up 2.0%). This decline was due to the reduction in shipments to the domestic market from Severstal, NLMK and ChMK. Meanwhile, the growth in freight turnover was due to higher exports of output produced by ZSMK, HTMK and NLMK.
Steel prices remained flat at $525 per tonne.
In November 2013, transportation of iron ore was at 9.0 mln tonnes (down 4.3%), with freight turnover at 9.0 bln tonne-kilometres (down 13.7%). Transport volumes fell due to more than twofold reduction in iron ore exports to China. The price of iron ore rose 3.4% to $136.4 per tonne against October 2013, 11% higher than in November 2012.
In November 2013, transportation of grain was at 1.8 mln tonnes, coinciding with the indicators for November 2012, with freight turnover at 3.4 bln tonne-kilometres (up 20.1%). Freight turnover grew due to a twofold increase in grain exports. Grain crops in 2013 were higher than in 2012 by 28%. The price of wheat fell to $229 per tonne.
In November 2013, transportation of fertilizers was at 4.0 mln tonnes (up 8.1%), with freight turnover at 6.7 bln tonne-kilometres (up 14.0%). This growth is due both to an increase of 3.5% in the volume of domestic freight turnover and to the growth of 15% in export routes. The price of DAP fell by $35 to $455 per tonne compared to October 2013.