RZD: China traffic could double in 10 years

In a speech Wednesday at a plenary session of the 5th Russian-Chinese Economic Forum in Moscow, Russian Railways (RZD) President Vladimir Yakunin noted, “Over the coming decade, the volume of direct rail freight with Chinacould increase by 50%-to-100%.”

Yakunin said that freight rail transport accounts for a substantial share of external trade freight between the two countries. During the first 10 months of 2010, the volume of rail freight between the countries increased by 33%.

The vast majority (93.9%) of cargo comprises Russian oil, timber, chemical, and mineral fertilizer exports, but in 2010, with the greater volume of Chinese machine and technical goods deliveries, imports also started to gradually increase, RZD said.

“Russian Railways [is] paying close attention to improving transport provision and developing rail and terminal-logistic infrastructure on the main freight routes between Russia and China,” Yakunin said.

RZD said one potential area for expanding cooperation is container freight from northwest Chinese provinces with no direct access to the coast via Russian Far East ports, for subsequent delivery to south China, Japan, South Korea, and other countries.