Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Railways, Transport

Even though local freight increased this year by 11.7% (11.5 million tonnes were transported), yet international cargo volumes fell by 9% (24 million tonnes were transported).

Saulius Stasiunas, Deputy Director of Freight Transportation Directorate at AB Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai says that the drop in international flows was caused by general economic situation in the Eastern markets.

"Worse results were also determined by lower numbers of fertilizer transportation from Belarusian potassium fertilizer company Belkalij. Belarusian oil processing companies also exported less through Klaipedos Nafta terminals," explained Stasiunas.

"Recent meetings with such companies like DB Schenker Rail, HUPAC Intermodal, Belarusian Railway Administration, major fertilizer, nitrogen and oil exporters and increasing demand of wagons shows promises that cargo volumes will still recover this year," said Stasiunas.

In mid 2013 Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai mentioned possible reduction of cargo flow as freight volumes fell in neighbouring countries.