Special Cargo Categories in Need of Priority Handling

The export volume of oil, gas, chemical, soda, as well as fertilizer commodities shipped through all Russian ports has totaled 15.8 million tons over the first half of 2023. 

In July, the Ministry of Energy proposed raising the priority of railroad deliveries for all oil products, as well as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), coke, and petrochemical products sent on export and domestic routes, Interfax reports based on the ministry’s announcement. This measure, the ministry believes, should foster momentum for oil product exports and delivery on Eastward bound routes. 

According to a comparative analysis of the Operators Information Center (OIC) provided by 1520 International, the cargo flows’ makeup has undergone a number of changes. 
For instance, in the first six months of 2023, shipments of hazardous goods for export to ports in the Northwest of Russia decreased by 15% compared to the same period last year. At the same time, cross-border shipments on South Urals Railway increased by 140%. Shipments to ports in the Azov-Black Sea basin and the Far East exhibited growth as well with 2% and 20%, respectively.   

According to Evgenia Zhelezova, Chief Analyst of the Information Center, the list of exported categories of hazardous goods has not undergone any significant changes as of the end of the first half of 2023. Dark oil products account for 41% in the structure of goods transported by rail, gasoline has increased 10%, diesel fuel –13%. 
"The leading shippers have remained unchanged: Rosneft, Lukoil, and Surgutneftegaz," one expert emphasized.

A multifaceted resource 

Another type of hazardous goods is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). In the first half of 2023, almost 1 million tons of hazardous goods were shipped for export in tank cars and tank containers, of which LPG accounted for upwards of 90%, the press service of SG-trans Group of Companies informed 1520 International. 

LPG transportation to China more than doubled over the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. Such momentum is a result of the newly reoriented cargo flows.  

The demand for LPG on international markets has been sparked by its wide application as a fuel resource in the automotive sector, for heating systems and other municipal needs, and as a component in the production of polyethylene, plastics, resin, rubber, and so on. 

Victoria Yeletina