Belarusian and Kaliningrad Railwaymen Plan to Increase Transit Traffic via Belarus

The representatives of Belarusian and Kaliningrad railways became interested in increasing flow of traffic. Such projects were discussed at the meeting that took place in the directorate of Kaliningrad Railway in Kaliningrad.

The representatives of Belarusian and Kaliningrad railways became interested in increasing flow of traffic. Such projects were discussed at the meeting that took place in the directorate of Kaliningrad Railway in Kaliningrad.

As Alexander Evsuk, Head of marketing and transport logistics department of the fright operation and foreign-economic activity service of Belarusian Railway, noted, “We are interested in increasing transit traffic flows both to and from Kaliningrad via our country. At present 34% of all rail transit via Belarus comes from Kaliningrad region, yet there are some reserves for growth. Nowadays the bulk of soy sprats (600 thousand tons) is imported to the country from CIS countries. Your region takes up little part of this segment though there is the potential”. First of all, it concerns soy offals which at present are imported to the republic from other regions.

In addition, at present a large-scale production complex on processing oil-containing crops – close corporation “Sodruzhestvo-Soya” – is being built in Kaliningrad region. Its first stage development has already been put into service. At the meeting it was noted that Belarus can become the largest consumer of soy sprat, which will be manufactured at the enterprise, using it to produce mix fodders.

It should be noted that close corporation “Sodruzhestvo-Soya” plans to increase volume of palm oil and fertilizer deliveries to other regions of Russia. These deliveries will be effected by rail via Belarus. The only constraint for regular traffic of soy produce from Kaliningrad is rather high railway fares when conveying these produce as transit goods via Lithuania.

As a result the parties have decided to appeal to the management of Lithuanian Railway with a request to reconsider the tariff policy as regards transit traffic of the close corporation’s production from Kaliningrad region.