Business news

MINSK, 29 January (BelTA) – The Belarusian Railways plans to increase container shipping on the route China-EU-China by 30% in 2018, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Railways.

In 2017 the China-EU-China route saw 245,400 containers (up 74% from 2016). In 2018 container shipping on the route is expected to go up by 30% as against 2017 to make up more than 300,000 containers.

According to the Belarusian Railways, cargo operations remain to be the main source earn profits and secure the road profitability. In 2017 the volume of transported cargo totaled 146.3 million tonnes, or 15% up from 2016. The cargo turnover went up by 18%. Freight handling reached its record over the past five years.

“The Belarusian Railways views direct fast container trains and the implementation of new projects as promising area with a view to increasing transportation and profitability. In 2015 the profit from cargo container transportation accounted for 2.5% of the total receipts. In 2017 it was 4.1%,” the Belarusian Railways said.

The performance of the Belarusian Railways in 2017 and tasks for 2018 were considered at the final meeting of the technical and economic council of the Belarusian Railways on 26 January. The event was attended by Minister of Transport and Communications Anatoly Sivak, heads and representatives of government bodies and departments, services and organizations of the Belarusian Railways.