The 29th International Exhibition of Transport and Logistics Services, Warehouse Equipment, and Technologies, known as TransRussia | SkladTech 2025, ended last week in Moscow. The event brought together industry experts and stakeholders to discuss key strategies for building effective transport and logistics systems. The agreements signed during the exhibition are expected to contribute partially to achieving these objectives.
As Alexey Shilo, Russia’s Deputy Transport Minister, stated: “Changes are the new form of stability. We have embraced these changes and learned to adapt quickly to them.”
The 2024 statistics for international railway freight traffic support this observation. Sergey Pavlov, First Deputy General Director of Russian Railways, noted that 4.8 million TEU of cargo were transported via rail in 2024, an 8.3% increase compared to the previous year. Transit cargo accounted for 1.3 million TEU, representing a 1.5-fold growth compared to 2023. Notable advancements are also being made in collaboration with China in railway transportation, with ongoing work on an investment project called "Development of Railway Border Checkpoint Infrastructure." Cargo turnover between China and RZD's network rose to 175 million tons in 2024, an increase from 161 million tons in 2023.
A Global Task
One of the most significant agreements signed at the TransRussia Transport and Logistics Congress involved Russian Railways (RZD) and the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE). The agreement is aimed at establishing expert and analytical cooperation, along with information exchange in the transport and logistics field, among companies from BRICS, SCO, EAEU, CIS, and G20 countries. The document was signed by Sergey Pavlov and HSE’s Vice-Rector Alexey Koshel.
As part of the agreement, the parties agreed to identify obstacles hindering logistics connectivity between countries in these unions. Plans also include developing scientific partnerships with domestic and international industry, research, and academic institutions, as well as organizing joint training and educational programs.
Operator Synergy
During the exhibition, Russian companies secured new partnerships to facilitate export-import cargo flow, as reflected in several formal agreements signed at the event.
The FESCO Transportation Group (TG, managed under Rosatom State Corporation) signed agreements with two leading South Korean logistics companies, Taewoong Logistics Co and WOOJIN GLOBAL LOGISTICS. These agreements focus on advancing intermodal container shipping routes between South Korea and Russia in both directions. Ruscon LLC (a Delo Group company) and South Korean firm Sunsko formed a partnership to develop multimodal transportation using containers between the Russian Far East and Asia. They also aim to expand cargo delivery routes and open new lines to accelerate shipment times.
Ruscon entered another agreement, this time with Octet Service LLC, a Russian company specializing in cross-border rail transportation and cargo processing. The agreement centers on creating logistical solutions for shipping goods from China to Russia, with a focus on increasing trade volumes through the Amur Corridor (Blagoveshchensk–Heihe crossing). The partnership will also design customized services for exporters, addressing freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, vehicle logistics via border crossings, and leveraging the Kanikurgan customs terminal, which is a part of the Amur Corridor transportation system.
“Our collaboration enables reinforcing our positions while unlocking new potential in cross-border logistics, offering first-class services and efficiency for our clients,” said Alexander Titov, Executive Director of Octet Service.
FESCO and Shandong Hi-Speed Qilu Eurasia Railway Logistics Co. (the main logistics operator in China's Shandong Province) are set to boost container rail transport between Russia and China through land crossings. The parties are working to streamline container shipments of a wide range of goods from Shandong to key destinations in Russia, including Moscow and the Volga region, as well as expanding export routes from Russian cities to Shandong. Furthermore, both companies plan to attract more logistics customers across their markets.
In parallel, RZD Logistics joined forces with the Tank Container Petrochemical Company (TNK) to leverage their expertise in creating new logistics products. They formalized a plan to promote and implement innovative services while emphasizing long-term collaboration in multimodal project development.
As part of this collaboration RZD Logistics will primarily focus on organizing train services, while TNK will supply rolling stock such as tank containers.
“Today, in partnership with TNK, we have laid the foundation for innovative logistics solutions and high-demand services for tank container rail transportation, particularly along North-South transport corridors. Combining expertise from RZD Logistics and TNK ensures our joint service’s success, expanding opportunities for our clients,” said Oleg Poleev, Acting CEO of RZD Logistics.
RZD Logistics also entered a cooperation agreement with Logoper LLC. This agreement outlines a path for identifying key strategic directions and serves as a launchpad for developing joint freight transportation and logistics solutions.
A Highly Valued Tool
At one of the sessions held on the sidelines of the exhibition, Alexey Grom, CEO and Chairman of UTLC ERA Management Board, detailed the company's 2025 strategy, which includes increasing its cargo volume and capacity within UTLC ERA’s corridors to achieve a target of 800,000 TEU. In 2024, the company reached a volume of 746,000 TEU.
A partnership agreement between TG FESCO and UTLC ERA is set to support this objective by improving trans-Eurasian rail container shipping and ensuring greater market transparency regarding rates on critical Eurasian routes.
The parties have agreed to develop the Eurasian Rail Alliance Index (ERAI), a composite index measuring the state of Eurasian transit container operations. To develop the ERAI, the companies will regularly exchange data, share pricing, and establish cargo transportation parameters, thereby forming a transparent cost index for rail transport on land routes. This initiative will enable cargo owners to better understand the infrastructure’s capabilities while enhancing rate transparency on key strategic rail routes.
Furthermore, the partnership also envisions optimizing logistics processes and improving service quality in participating countries to attract additional container traffic along corridors such as China – EAEU states – China and China – European states – China.
German Maslov, Vice President for FESCO's Liner and Logistics Division, stated that cooperating with UTLC ERA will bring together their most advanced expertise and open new horizons for growing rail container transit through land border crossings. “Since its inception, the ERAI index has established itself as a vital tool for increasing transparency and awareness in the trans-Eurasian container rail transportation market. The integration of expertise and experience through cooperation with FESCO, combined with the Group's commitment to sharing data and making current freight rate quotes publicly available to a wide range of stakeholders, provides the market with a highly valued tool to support decision-making when selecting a mode of transportation. In the maritime and air transportation markets, cost information has long been consolidated into publicly accessible pricing indicators. Now, thanks to ERAI, railways will also have a current pricing indicator for Eurasian transit. This development could serve as the first step toward creating a unified digital ecosystem for trans-Eurasian transit," commented Alexey Grom, General Director of UTLC ERA.
Loading the infrastructure
The Central Directorate for the Management of Terminal and Warehouse Complexes of Russian Railways (RZD) signed a cooperation agreement with Logoper LLC. The document, signed by Alexey Belsky, Head of the Central Directorate, and Alexander Kakhidze, General Director of Logoper LLC, focuses on container transportation and the development of terminal and warehouse infrastructure.
The agreement outlines intensified joint work to improve service quality at terminals and expand the range of goods suitable for containerization. It also includes plans to enhance the operational model for freight transportation.
In the current economic climate, container transportation has become a key driver of non-resource exports and the fastest-growing segment of freight transport. Developing optimal logistics chains and improving container services are strategic goals that are critical to the broader growth of the national economy.
At the same time, the Gorky Directorate for the Management of Terminal and Warehouse Complexes of RZD signed an agreement with FESCO Transportation Group (TG FESCO). The partnership focuses on developing container transportation from Doskino station (Nizhny Novgorod) and Tikhoretskaya station (Kazan). The agreement was signed by Leonid Shlyakhturov, Executive Director of FESCO Integrated Transport (part of FESCO), and Otar Berdzenishvili, Head of the Gorky Directorate.
As part of the agreement, the parties will explore opportunities to develop terminal and warehouse infrastructure at the Doskino and Tikhoretskaya freight stations. To implement the agreement effectively, they also plan to expand the range of transported goods to ensure full-capacity and regular operation of container trains. TG FESCO will work to attract additional cargo volumes at Doskino and Tikhoretskaya stations, while the Gorky Directorate will ensure smooth operations and improved service quality at these freight terminals.
According to Otar Berdzenishvili, joint efforts will enhance the economic appeal of container transportation and increase cargo volumes at RZD freight terminals. “By coordinating actions, sharing information, and exchanging operational experience, we will be able to attract additional cargo volumes and increase freight flows at Doskino and Tikhoretskaya stations,” said Leonid Shlyakhturov.
Additionally, FESCO has signed agreements with several other freight terminal operators. For instance, with Apika (operator of a freight terminal in the Chelyabinsk region) and TRANSSTROYGROUP (operator of a multimodal terminal in the Sverdlovsk region), FESCO aims to develop export shipments from Middle Ural enterprises to markets in East and Southeast Asia, the Black Sea region, and beyond. On the import side, they will organize shipments in the opposite direction.
FESCO and Service-Eklon (operator of the Novosibirsk Container Terminal) also intend to develop rail container transportation from Seyatel station on the West Siberian Railway, which serves the container terminal.
Furthermore, representatives of the Logistics Company One Belt One Road LLC (operator of the container terminal of the same name in Tatarstan) reached agreements with both FESCO and Ruscon LLC.
In the case of FESCO, the agreement includes steps to implement joint projects for launching container train shipments using the terminal's facilities (spanning 43,000 square meters). The first stage has been agreed by the parties to include exchange of information to develop optimal logistics solutions for domestic, export, and import shipments.
With Ruscon, the partners aim to create a public service for container transportation along the Primorsky Krai (Far Eastern maritime terminal of the Delo Group) – Republic of Tatarstan (One Belt One Road container terminal) route. This includes optimizing empty container storage and ensuring a closed-loop logistics cycle by consolidating export and import flows.
In search of a cargo base
As part of efforts to maximize infrastructure efficiency and grow export-import operations, transport companies participating in the exhibition secured agreements with new customers and cargo shippers.
For example, FESCO entered into a partnership with TAIF NK to advance containerized shipments of chemical products. Agreements were also signed with the Omsk Food Group to organize consolidated container shipments from Omsk to support both domestic and international routes. Additionally, a partnership was formalized with Luzales for the export of woodworking equipment from the Komi Republic to Asian markets, including Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East. These shipments will use key intermodal routes through Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, and Novorossiysk. FESCO and Luzales will also cooperate on rail container shipments of lumber to China via land border crossings.
Additionally, FESCO and Hoa Binh Construction Group (HBCG), one of Vietnam's leading construction companies, plan to establish cooperation for container shipping of construction materials from Vietnam to Russia. The respective agreement was also signed during the exhibition.
Ruscon LLC, for its part, is set to streamline logistics operations for the chemical sector through a new partnership with Nortex LLC, the region's premier distributor of chemical raw materials and construction systems across Russia and the CIS. The agreement focuses on enhancing transportation services for the chemical industry, with both companies working to optimize existing supply chains by leveraging Delo Group's assets, services, and technological capabilities.
According to Andrey Chernyshev, First Vice President of Ruscon: “This partnership opens up new possibilities for optimizing chemical logistics. We hope this work will enhance operational efficiency while introducing a new level of quality and service for our clients.”
Logoper LLC has signed agreements with Sibur Holding. These agreements focus on developing a comprehensive partnership between the companies and include specific cooperation proposals for implementation in 2025. The agreements outline planned collaboration in domestic and international transportation of finished products from the Amur Gas Chemical Complex. The parties have approved a cooperation roadmap. This partnership is expected to contribute to the development of both the chemical industry and the national economy.
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